China: Lhasa Brewery Co. gains from the opening of the world’s highest railway line

Tibet Lhasa Brewery Co., which is 33 percent owned by Danish brewer Carlsberg A/S is to benefit from the opening of the world's highest railway line, over 5,072-meter-high (16,640-foot-tall) Tanggula Pass in China, Bloomberg said August 30. Lhasa Brewery's slogan is “The Beer on the Top of the World.''

Tibetan companies have been eagerly awaiting completion of the rail line. Shares in listed companies that do business in Tibet have climbed as much as 300 percent in anticipation of new markets, cheaper freight rates and increased tourist numbers. An index of eight Tibetan companies listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges rose 65 percent for the year ended on Aug. 29, according to data compiled by Bloomberg, compared with a 43 percent rise for the Shanghai Composite Index.

Lhasa Brewery Co. dominates the beer market in the Chinese-ruled Tibet Autonomous Region.

31 August, 2006