Efes Breweries International NV said its total sales volume increased to 13.3 million hectolitres in 2007, by growing 13.8 pct over 2006, according to company’s press release, January 18.

In 2007 domestic sales volume of Turkey Beer Operations increased by 7.9% over the previous year and reached 7.1 mhl. Although the Ramadan moved primarily into the third quarter in 2007, which is the peak season for Turkish beer business, volume growth momentum accelerated owing to the increased tourism activity, the dynamic performance of our initiatives towards further development of off-premise outlets, in addition to favorable weather conditions and effective marketing activities in the period and throughout the year in general. The fourth quarter was especially strong with 22.1% year-on-year growth. Strong domestic volume growth resulted in market share appreciation taking our estimated market share to 83% from 82% in 2007.

In addition to factors listed above, volume growth in the fourth quarter was also positively affected by Government’s introduction of tag application for the alcoholic drinks sector in order to prevent contraband products, primarily in wine category. This resulted in a decreased presence of such products in the market, which impacted beer sales positively.

Export volumes improved on a quarter by quarter ...More Info

On-trade volume figures published by AC Nielsen show the beer market slumped by 6% in volume terms in November 2007 compared to the year before, The Morning Advertiser published January 18.

The figures are not quite as bad as those published by the British Beer and Pub Association, which showed a 9.7% drop in beer volumes in November 2007.

The AC Neilsen figures show premium ale down 8%, standard ale down 8%, standard lager down 5%, premium lager down 10%, stout down by 2% and cider up by 3%.

Wine was down by 4% and spirits dropped by 3%, with soft drinks sales down by 2%.

AC Nielsen consultant Graham Page said: “Our beer numbers are not quite as bad as the BPPA’s, but here we are looking at sales in retail outlets, so some evidence of operators using stock and low reordering, as the smoking ban effects kick in harder.

“I think January to March will be very poor, without any real respite until June/July, assuming we have half a summer.

“I think we may be seeing the Moving Annual Total (MAT) for beer by Easter being -7/8%, possibly worse and the current economic circumstances are simply not supportive of anything other than consumers and ...More Info

Budweiser maker Anheuser-Busch (A-B) may show up at United Breweries (UB) to acquire Scottish & Newcastle (S&N)’s 37.5% stake, which is in play with the latter entering into discussions with Carlsberg and Heineken combine to sell off its worldwide interests, TNN reported January 21. Dutch brewer Heineken has already moved for S&N stake in the Vijay Mallya-led Indian company as a possible carve up of the UK brewer could be achieved in the coming week.

Mr Mallya and UK brewer S&N hold equal 37.5% stake in UB, which accounts for 48% share of India’s rapidly expanding beer consumption with Kingfisher as its flagship brand. The likelihood of an unsolicited bid from A-B, and the other potential suitors like InBev or SABMiller, strengthened with UB stating that it possessed a right of first refusal on S&N stake under certain circumstances.

“We are fully aware of our rights. There is a right of first refusal under certain circumstances, and we are not going to explain in public. It is sufficient to say that we have received approaches from more than one global brewer,” a top UB official told ET.

InBev launches a new buy-back program for an amount up to 300 million Euro of InBev shares, according to company’s press release, January 21.

Following the successful completion of its 300 million Euro buy-back program announced on 30 August 2007, InBev’s Board of Directors resolved to initiate a new share buy-back program for an amount of up to 300 million Euro.

The share buyback will be executed pursuant to the powers granted at the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders of 24 April 2007, and, in accordance with that mandate, may be conducted within 8 months of the date of the resolution.

InBev’s share buy-back programs are an integral component of its strategy to pro-actively manage its capital structure and return cash to shareholders, as well as to hedge the company’s share based compensation system.

About InBev

InBev is a publicly traded company based in Leuven, Belgium. The company's origins date back to 1366, and today it is the leading global brewer. InBev’s strategy is to strengthen its local platforms by building significant positions in the world's major beer markets through organic growth, world-class efficiency, targeted external growth, and by putting consumers first. InBev has a portfolio of more than 200 brands, including Stella Artois®, Brahma®, ...More Info

A double price for hops in 2007 compared with 2006 and the increase of malt price will generate a 30% growth in beer price, according to Vifor Versescu, President of Romanian Independent Beer Producers, Adevarul published January 21.

“The hop price for 2006 harvest was of 270 euro per tonne but in 2007 it has increased till 560-630 euro. For malt, the price was 107 euro per tonne in 2006, in 2007 it has reached even 1000 euro. Meanwhile the price for raw materials will continue to grow and will generate an increase in beer prices.”

Yanjing Brewery Co Ltd, China's second-biggest beer maker, aims to raise between 1.2 billion yuan ($166 million) and 1.5 billion yuan ($207 million) by selling additional shares to fund expansion, two people familiar with the plan said, according to Reuters, January 21.

A spokeswoman for Beijing-based Yanjing declined to confirm the fund-raising target, but said the share sale plan was under discussion and would be announced towards the end of the week.

Trading in Yanjing shares, which has been suspended since Jan. 18 pending an announcement, would resume next week, she said. The stock had risen 79 percent over the past 12 months.

Guangfa Securities Co has been appointed the underwriter for the new share offer, the market sources, who asked not to be identified, told Reuters.

Chinese brewers are racing to boost their share of the world's largest beer market by volume.

Yanjing's larger rival, Tsingtao Brewery Co, unveiled a plan in November to sell domestic corporate bonds to raise up to 1.5 billion yuan to increase capacity.

"Yanjing needs capital to expand nationwide because of increasing pressure from Tsingtao," said Chen Gang, analyst at Sinolink Securities Co.

Yanjing, which dominates the Beijing market, has 10 percent of China's beer market, much lower than the 16 ...More Info

While beer drinking has declined since 2003, the imported-beer market penetration has held steady, says Chicago-based Mintel, according to MediaPostPublications, January 22. Between 2001 and 2006, imported beer's market share increased by 2.3%, which the consultancy says is the highest market share gain among all alcoholic beverages.

Mintel says imported-beer sales in the U.S. will grow 5.9% through 2012. A full 26% of beer drinkers imbibe imported beer.

The firm says import beers are benefiting from consumers' upgrading to brands like Stella Artois, and "consumer inclination to try new and small [import] brands." The firm says that Chinese brand Tsingtao, Czech brand Pilsner Urquell, German brands Hacker-Pschorr and Paulaner Biers, Italian brands Moretti and Peroni, Japanese brand Sapporo, Dutch brand Grolsch, and British brand Newcastle Brown Ale all have boosted U.S. sales and market share since 2002.

Mintel says the up-grade trend is being driven--as in other CPG, appliance, and auto market segments--by the expansion of higher-income households in the U.S. The firm notes that from 1999-2006, the number of households pulling in over $75,000 increased by 50%, or nearly 12 million.

The consultancy also says import-beer growth is being spurred by demographic diversity in the U.S., with Hispanic and Asian populations "considerably more ...More Info

Soufflet Group raised its share in Slavutsky Malt Plant, one of the biggest malt producers in Ukraine, till 67.34% by purchasing 16,639 million shares, Ukrbeer reported January 21.

European Bank of Reconstruction and Development is the owner of 5.92 million shares, or 24% of total shares.

SKOL Breweries Ltd of the SAB Miller-India is encouraging farmers in Rajasthan to cultivate the type of malt barley required by the industry, The Financial Express reported January 21.

Barley grown in India has high protein content of 13% to 15% as a coarse cereal it caters to poor man’s nutrition needs. But as a neglected crop, the area under barley has been fast decreasing over the years. In the last year, area under barley was only 0.671 million hectare.

The reason being that farmers prefer to cultivate crops which has higher support prices and greater market demand.

“Market demand for a crop can be created if alternate uses are put in place. Right now Indian barley has few alternate uses. The high protein content in Indian barley is not suitable for making beer. Ideally the protein content in barley should be in the range of 7% to 10% if it is to be used in the beer industry,” said the director of corporate affairs and communication in SAB Miller-India, Sundeep Kumar.

He said that in previous year out of the total production of 1.227 million tonne barley, only 200,000 tonne was used for making beer. “We are sourcing seeds from different countries and ...More Info

M. Váňová(1), S. Palík(1), J. Hajšlová(2), I. Burešová(1) (1) Agricultural Research Institute Kroměříž, Ltd., Czech Republic (2) Institute of Chemical Technology, Prague, Czech Republic

Abstract
Effects of the year, previous crop and control of leaf diseases on grain yield, test weight, protein and starch content, Fusarium head blight (FHB) and deoxynivalenol (DON) content in grain were investigated in four spring barley varieties. The trials were set up in 2001–2004 at Kroměříž (235 m above sea level, average annual temperature 8.7°C, annual precipitation sum 599 mm) in a five-course crop rotation, where spring barley followed the previous crops sugar beet, winter wheat, maize, and oilseed rape. The experimental years differed a lot in temperature and precipitation. The years 2001 and 2002 were dry and warm and grain yield was much lower as compared to that in the following years even though the other growing conditions were identical. The most stable quality parameters were obtained after the previous crop sugar beet. The average value of test weight was 661 g/l (ranging from 629 to 685 g/l), protein content 11.2% (10.3–11.7%) and starch content 61.5% (58.9–64.9%). Grain yield averaged 6.67 t/ha. Test weight after maize was on average 658 g/l (619–692 g/l), protein content 11.5% (10.1–12.4%), starch content 60.7% (59.2–63.8%), and grain yield 6.24 t/ha. Test weight and starch content were lower and protein content higher after oilseed rape and winter wheat. A higher FHB incidence and DON content were found after the previous crop maize. In 2001 and 2002 with strong water deficit during the growing seasons, more grains infected by Fusarium spp. were detected and DON content was higher too. The increase was due to a short rainy period at heading of spring barley. Problems of variable conditions for growing malting varieties of spring barley and current possibilities of producing both good grain yields and quality are discussed. Keywords: malting spring barley; yield; quality parameters; Fusarium spp.; deoxynivalenol
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