Czech breweries increased their sales by 4% to 8.9 million hl of beer in the first half of 2002, compared to the same period last year, Czech Brewing and Malting Association reveals. This result was obtained due to the hot weather, which made the beer demand grows, a phenomenon occurred in several East European countries.

The Association said many Czech breweries are running full capacity. It also predicted a 3% rise of beer output by the end of 2002.

Exports of Czech beer rose about 17% to 1.8 million hl. Czech breweries export their beer manly to Germany, Slovakia, the US and Poland. Czech beer market itself is a prolific one, as the Czech Republic claims the highest per capita beer consumption in the world. 156 litres of beer per capita were registered last year in the country.

01 August, 2002