Bulgaria: Beer consumption in Bulgaria has dropped by 33.1% over the first six months of the year. About 367,700 hl of beer were sold in September, whereas in August more than 550,000 hl were sold, according to the figures revealed by the Bulgarian Union of Brewers. The chairman of Bulgarian Union of Brewers Vladimir Ivanov forecasted that in 2004 beer sales in Bulgaria would register an 8% increase versus 2003.

In August Bulgaria's beer market recorded a growth of 7-8% for the first eight months in 2004 over the same period last year. Thirteen Bulgarian breweries produce over 50 different kinds of beer in the country.

13 October, 2004