Japan's second largest brewer, Kirin Brewery, is looking to renew its position by enlarging its business in China, considered by it a beer prolific area. The company expects that China will become its biggest production base within five years.

Naomichi Asano, CEO of Kirin's international division, said: "Asia has plenty of room for growth so that's where we are focusing.... In five years' time we will expand from being a Japanese beer company to a leader in Asia. Then we will look at becoming a top global operator."

During the last six years Kirin realized its expansion in Asia-Pacific region by acquiring a 46% stake in Australian brewer, Lion Nathan, and 15% of San Miguel. In China, the company already has a joint venture company, Zhuhai Kirin President Brewery, which produces Kirin beer for Chinese market.

The beer market in Japan diminished by 1.4% between 1997 and 2000, while the market increased by 11% in Asia, with growth of 7% in China. China's per capita beer consumption is currently just 25% of the figure for Japan.

30 July, 2002