Czech Republic: Beer Export increased by 17 % in 2005 year-on-year

Export of Czech beer increased by more than 17 % in 2005 compared to the previous year, Associated Press cited officials saying on February 9.

Czech breweries exported a total of 310 million liters (81 million gallons) of beer last year, said Jan Vesely, the head of the Czech Beer and Malt Association. It was 264 million liters (70 million gallons) in 2004.

In 2005, the country's overall beer production increased by 1.7 % to 1.9 billion liters (496 million gallons), Vesely said. Domestic consumption dropped by one percent to 1.6 billion liters (415 million gallons), he said.

Some 16 % of the country's production of beer was exported in 2005, with Pilsner Urquel, Staropramen and Budweiser Budvar being the most exported Czech beers. Germany, Slovakia, Britain and the United States were the biggest importers of Czech beer in 2005.

10 February, 2006