Japan: Shipments of beer, beer-like drinks in Japan increased by 2.5% yoy in October

Shipments of beer and beer-like alcoholic drinks by five Japanese brewers rose 2.5 % in October from a year before for the third straight monthly increase as higher temperatures stimulated demand, industry groups said Friday, November 11, according to Kyodo News.

The shipments by Kirin Brewery Co., Asahi Breweries Ltd., Suntory Ltd., Orion Breweries Ltd. and Sapporo Breweries Ltd. totaled 39.96 million cases during the period. One case holds 12.66 liters, or the equivalent of 20 633-mlliliter bottles.

Shipments of so-called "third-category beer" -- beer-like sparkling alcoholic beverages subject to lower liquor taxes --jumped 3.2-fold to 6.83 million cases, accounting for 17.1 percent of total shipments in October.

Beer shipments posted a 2.0 percent rise to 22.60 million cases. The shipments increased for the first time in two months, helped by brisk sales of beer for restaurant use.

"Happoshu" low-malt beer shipments fell 28.4 percent to 10.53 million cases, hit by explosive growth in sales of the beer-like sparkling alcoholic beverages. Happoshu shipments fell below the year-before level for the 15th straight month.

11 November, 2005