China: For the third year running, China has come out tops as the world's biggest beer producer, brewing more than 27 billion litres of the amber nectar for consumers. This year's output exceeds last year's figures by about 2 billion litres - or 7,4 %, says Xiao Derun, director of the beer division of the China Distillers' Association.

Drinkers in China consumed 25 billion litres of beer last year, pushing consumption past recognised beer-drinking nations Germany, Belgium and the United States and claiming pride of place in the global top spot for the first time. Continuing demand pushed pre-tax profit from beer up 22 % to 8,72-billion yuan (about R39-billion) between January and July. Derun credited the increase in production to the purchase and consolidation of small, inefficient breweries by major brands, along with the construction of new breweries and new investment in existing ones.

China's beer market is still dominated by domestic brands such as Tsingtao and Yanjing, but international names such as Budweiser, Japan's Suntory, Carlsberg and Fosters also have a major presence in the country.

06 November, 2004