Japan, Tokyo — Total shipments of beer and low-malt beer known as "happohsu" fell 4.0% in January from a year earlier, down for the fifth consecutive month, according to January 13 data released by Japan's five leading brewers.

Shipments of beer and happoshu in January totaled 346,130 kiloliters, according to Asahi Breweries Ltd., Kirin Brewery Co, Sapporo Breweries Ltd, Suntory Ltd and Orion Breweries Ltd.

Happoshu accounted for 35.9% of the overall beer market, up 2.2 percentage points from December last year.

13 February, 2003