In the last three years since it took over the Čelarevo brewery, Carlsberg Serbia has been showing constant growth in production and sales, from 590,000 hectoliters in 2004, to 960,000 in 2005 and a record amount of beer which was sold this year, B92 released November 16.

Carlsberg Serbia CEO Isaac Sheps said that for the first time in the long tradition of the Čelarevo brewery, it will achieve the sale of over a million hectoliters in one year.

He said that the company launched its “Tuborg Christmas Brew” this month, a special brand dedicated to the approaching holiday season.

Since it purchased the brewery three years ago, Carlsberg has invested €100 million and taken a firm grip on second place in the Serbian beer market.

The Ukrainian beer market increased its volume by 13% in January-October 2006 while beer sales expanded by 12%, The Russian Brewers Union communicated November 13. Obolon was reported to be the leader of the domestic beer market.

According to a brewery’s statement, the company rolled out 8.08 hl of beer in January-October 2006, increasing its output by 22.2% year-on-year. Beer production in October prevailed by 13.9% year-on-year reaching 700,000 hl.

Ukrpivo stated that for the first half of 2006, SUN Interbrew’s share of the Ukrainian market amounted for 36.8% (36.3% in 1H 2005). Obolon was second with a market share which ranged to 28% (25.2% in 1H 2005). The brewer of Baltika Nr.0 was fallowed by BBH-Ukraine: 17.7% (19.1% in 1H 2005) and Sarmat group: 12.3% (13.2% in 1H 2005). Other brewers’ market share dropped to 5.2% from 6.2% in 1H 2005.

Ochakovo released its 9 months to September 2006 financial results, according to which the company outperformed a 2.5 times increase of its net profit which reached RUR311.5 million. The company’s earnings excluding excise duties and other similar fiscal charges attained RUR 5.773 billion (+13%), The Russian brewers Union announced November 13.

The company refers the outstanding financial performance to the increase of the profitableness of sales corroborated to a significant decrease of costs.

Sales kept on growing, leaded by a 71% increase of kvass deliveries.

“In 2007 the company intends to maintain and to ameliorate the positive dynamics of sales emphasizing upon the expansion of the “premium” beer segment. In this respect, the company prepares to release the “Stolichnoye” brand and wants to improve sales of non-alcoholic kvass,” Ochakovo general director Vladimir Antonov stated.

The brewer is at the origins of a large-scale advertising campaign for 2007 for which it secured nearly US$20 million.

Farmers Weekly reported November 16 that malting barley prices have continued to rise on strong EU and domestic demand. Spring barley values have risen by £2-5/t ex-farm over the past week to £120-130/t ex-farm, depending on region and quality. Feed barley markets remain firm as more stocks are soaked up by the malting industry. Traders expect the firm trends to continue well into the New Year.