E-Malt.com Flash 22b. June 02

Russia: InBev might acquire Tinkoff’s Company

Sun Interbrew, the second largest beer maker of Russia, is on the edge of acquiring Russia’s Tinkoff brewery based in St. Petersburg...more info

Denmark: Carlsberg sells Danbrew to Birch & Krogboe

Danish brewing force, Carlsberg A/S, announced on June 3 that it is selling Danbrew Ltd. A/S to Birch & Krogboe A/S with effect from 1 October 2005...more info

Hong Kong: China Resources’ brewery posted a 20% rise in overall beer sales

China Resource's brewery business recorded a loss of HK$35.7 million during the first quarter, widening from a loss of HK$15.5 million in the same quarter of last year. The brewery posted a 20% rise in overall beer sales, but some of its recently acquired breweries in eastern China were hit by a seasonal drop in demand.

China Resources Enterprise Ltd. announced on May 31 its first-quarter net profit more than doubled on the strong performance of its retail operations. The company reported a net profit of HK$660.1 million in the first quarter of 2005 ended March 31, up from HK$319.9 million a year earlier. Company’s revenue rose to HK$12.13 billion from HK$10.92 billion.

During the quarter, the company's supermarket operations posted a 97% jump in earnings.

The profits were partly boosted by the revaluation of the company's properties and related accounting adjustments. Without those accounting adjustments, China Resources said its first-quarter net profit would have been HK$451 million. The company said it also gained HK$84 million from the disposal of its remaining 10.5% stake in Qingdao Qirun Petrochemical Co.

UK & Colombia: SABMiller shares lower on talk of Grupo Empresarial Bavaria bid

Shares in SABMiller PLC fell 18-1/2 pence to 816 at 12:05 p.m. June 2 on vague talk that the international brewing giant will make its long-awaited takeover bid for Colombia's Grupo Empresarial Bavaria brewery next week, AFX News communicated on June 2.

SABMiller, along with other brewing major Heineken NV and InBev are all said to be eyeing Grupo Bavaria, which is Colombia's second-largest brewer with dominant market positions in Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and Panama. Some analysts reckon the risk of a bidding war could push the price up to 9 bln usd.

SABMiller is believed to have held talks with Grupo Bavaria about a bid and appears to be in a good position to finance a bid. It has a strong balance sheet and could be in a position to issue shares as part of the deal, which would keep Bavaria's shareholders happy.

The rumours of a bid centred on a suggestion that SABMiller had cancelled a sales presentation to brokers DKW next Thursday due to a "diary clash". However, sources told AFX News that there was "nothing untoward" and that this should not be interpreted that any bid for Grupo Bavaria was imminent.

Turkey: Anadolu Efes sold about 304 million litres of beer in Q1 2005

Anadolu Efes Biracilik ve Malt Sanayii A.S. (Anadolu Efes) announced on May 28 that in Q1 2005 Company’s total beer sales volume reached 304 million liters...more info

Malt News

EU: A fierce competition in the domestic malt markets for deliveries in 2006

The discrepancy between available malt stocks and capacities on one side and demand on the other side has led to a fierce competition...more info

Barley News

North Africa: Barley crop in North Africa decreased

The drought, which hit the Iberian Peninsula, led to an extremely poor barley crop in Morocco, where 1.1-1.2 million tonnes...more info

Canada: Canadian barley exports during August 2004 and March 2005

Canadian exports seem to be almost exclusively malting barley, analyst said. During August 2004 and March 2005 484,000 tonnes were shipped to China...more info

Hops News

USA: Hop Industry Economic Viability Initiative from Washington Hop Commission

China has come on strong and is now the world's third-largest hop producer with a 20 % market share of the dominant variety. Germany leads with 32 % followed by the United States at 30 %.

The roughly 48 hop growers in the Yakima Valley -- down from 264 in the 1960s -- survive because they've diversified into tree fruit or other crops, but they say time is running out.

"If we're going to keep our hop growers in the game, we've got to achieve major reductions in the cost of production," Ann George, administrator of the Washington Hop Commission, said.

To keep growers competitive, the Hop Commission is spearheading the "Hop Industry Economic Viability Initiative," which is entering its second phase with a $1.5 million appropriation from the 2005 Legislature. The program started last year with a $400,000 investment on labor-saving and other technologies.

Growth in the state minimum wage and increases in workers' compensation and unemployment taxes have combined to add $40,000 in costs per year to the average grower, who is already losing $300 to $400 an acre, according to the Washington Hop Commission. ...more info