Russia, Moscow: Russia's leading beer maker Baltika, jointly owned by Denmark's Carlsberg and Scottish&Newcastle, on Wednesday, October 6 shipped its first batch of beer to China, according to Reuters’ report. It plans to supply China with more than 350,000 litres of beer before the end of the year, it said in a statement.

The first shipment contains Baltika Number 7 Export brand but further shipments will also have Baltika Number 3 Classic. The half-litre bottle will cost 8 yuans (about $1). Baltika Number 3 Classic will be delivered from Baltika's brewery in Khabarovsk on the Russian-Chinese border.

Baltika, which last month announced the launch of sales to Australia, exports beer to 34 states. Last year it exported 992,300 hectolitres of beer, or 6 percent of overall sales.

10 October, 2004