Mexico’s leading brewer Grupo Modelo, S.A.B. de C.V. and Subsidiaries, announced its financial and operating results for the first quarter of 2010 on April, 27.

During the first quarter, the company’s total volume sold in the domestic market amounted to 7.8 million hectolitres, which represents a 5.7% reduction. This figure is comprised of a 5.2% decline in the domestic brands volume and a 24.5% decrease in the imported brand portfolio. These results reflect the marked slowdown in consumption and the adverse weather observed in the first two months of the year. Further, domestic brands were affected by the price increase implemented in the market at the end of 2009 with the purpose of compensating the expected inflation rate for the current year and tax increases.

Export volume increased 0.6% compared to 2009, reaching 3.1 million hectolitres. The regions which registered a better performance during the quarter were Europe and Asia. It is important to mention that the volume in the US remained stable during the quarter, fueled by the recovery observed in the month of March, due to the positive results of the recently launched packages which offer a better value proposition to consumers and for specific occasions. Exports represented 28.5% of ...More Info

Heineken N.V. announced on April, 22 that its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (AGM) has approved the acquisition of 100% of the beer operations of Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. (FEMSA) via an all share transaction.

Heineken N.V. will acquire all shares of common stock in Emprex Cerveza, S.A. de C.V. (FEMSA Cerveza), comprising 100% of FEMSA’s Mexican beer operations (including its US and other export businesses) and the remaining 83% of FEMSA’s Brazilian beer business that Heineken does not currently own.

The AGM also approved the dividend proposal for the year 2009 of € 0.65 per share. As an interim dividend of € 0.25 was paid on 2 September 2009, the final dividend will be € 0.40 per share. The final dividend will be made payable on Thursday 29 April 2010. Heineken N.V. shares will be quoted ex-dividend on Monday 26 April 2010.

The AGM appointed, subject to the completion of the acquisition of the beer operations of FEMSA, Mr. J.A. Fernandez Carbajal and Mr. J.G. Astaburuaga Sanjines as members of the Supervisory Board, for the maximum period of 4 years.

Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. (“FEMSA”) said on April, 26 the income from operations at FEMSA Cerveza, its brewing division, grew by 12.7% in the first quarter of 2010.

Top-line growth mainly due to higher price per hectolitre in Mexico and strong volume growth in Brazil, combined with lower cost pressures, resulted in an operating margin expansion of 70 basis points.

FEMSA’s Mexico beer sales volume decreased by 6.0% to 5.523 million hectolitres in 1Q10, in the context of a still challenging economic environment accentuated by incremental taxation and strong price increases implemented during the beginning of the year. Mexico price per hectolitre increased by 9.8% over 1Q09 to Ps. 1,191.5 in 1Q10. Mexico beer revenues increased by 3.2% over 1Q09 driven by the robust price increases implemented during the quarter which offset the decrease in volumes.

Brazil sales volume increased by 10.4% in 1Q10, to 2.706 million hectolitres, driven by a solid performance of Kaiser brand and double-digit growth from the Heineken brand. Brazil price per hectolitre calculated in Mexican pesos increased by 9.8% to Ps. 744.4 compared to the same period in 2009, driven by the appreciation of the Brazilian Real. Price per hectolitre in local currency decreased 3.9% compared ...More Info

Belgian brewer Duvel Moortgat said on April, 26 its first quarter turnover grew and all brands have shown improvement with respect to the same period in 2009.

In previous years, malt prices have risen to record highs. They will decrease slightly in 2010, but will remain at a high level, the company believes.

For packaging materials, an increase in prices is expected in the second half of 2010. In the years to follow, these markets will mainly be controlled by a probable rise in demand versus a stable to decreasing supply.

For Duvel Moortgat, energy costs remained practically stable in 2009. Also in 2010 they will remain stable.

Despite the weak economic climate, Duvel Moortgat managed to record higher results. Should no new and unexpected economic developments occur on the major markets, this growth shall be continued in 2010, the brewer said.

The Duvel Moortgat group, founded in 1871, is an independent producer of authentic specialty beers and premium brands. Around the world, the group is considered to be the leading producer of blond, bottle conditioned, high-fermentation beers, a dominant position owed largely to the success of its best-selling product Duvel.

In a move to compete with China Resources Breweries in Henan province, Tsingtao Brewery is rumoured to be acquiring Henan Waysnow Beer, the second largest brewer in Henan province, 163.com reported last week, citing unnamed sources.

Henan Waysnow Beer reportedly has current annual production capacity of 600,000 tons of beer, 20,000 tons of wheat malt and 30,000 tons of other drinks.

Tsingtao Brewery posted 2009 operating revenue and net profit of 17.76 billion yuan and 1.253 billion yuan respectively, increases of 12.5 percent and 79.2 percent year-on-year. Earnings per share hit 0.953 yuan.

According to Sun Prairie Grain grain merchandiser Larry Raap, the end of March planting intentions report that indicated barley acreage will fall by 19 percent in North Dakota to a new record low did not take anyone by surprise. Mr. Raap was expecting a fall in barley plantings due to the lower contract prices being offered, Farm & Ranch Guide reported on April, 24.

“The farmers switched to some different things like canola because of the lower barley prices,” he said. “Canola acres are up considerably in this area.

“It's still hard to get rid of last year's malting barley crop and there's plenty of it around. Right now we have an oversupply.”

Raap indicated malting barley is starting to move a little better through the pipeline as a few cars are being shipped each week; but it hasn't gotten to the point that he can send off a shipment of barley anytime he wants. On the feed side, those markets have stabilized as well, according to Raap. Again, that's due to a lack of any demand. Raap has seen no indication that the foreign buyers will start ordering barley from the U.S. At present, most of Japan's needs are ...More Info

The CWB released on April, 22 its April 2010 Pool Return Outlook (PRO) for the upcoming 2010-11 crop year.

Malting barley and feed barley values are unchanged from the previous PRO, the CWB said.

The value of two-row malting barley is C$200/tonne, that of six-row malting barley is C$182/tonne. The value of Pool A feed barley crop 2010-11 is C$143/tonne.

PRO Commentary

Designated (malting) barley

Over the past two years, barley production has been at historically high levels. The quality of most of the crop was good, causing a significant narrowing of the malt premium to feed barley. Reduced barley area in Europe and North America should help reduce supplies by the end of the 2010-11 marketing year. The carry-out situation should keep demand fairly well supplied during the first half of 2010-11. Planting is well underway and nearing completion in south and central Europe, with minimal production concerns at present.

Feed barley

Northern Hemisphere barley planting is under way with minimal production concerns in Europe but dry conditions in Western Canada. Global carry-in stocks are forecast to decline as consumption is estimated to exceed production by 3.7 million tonnes. Improved pasture conditions in several key importing regions lowered feed demand in 2009-10. In North America, ...More Info

Stanislava Gorjanović

J. Inst. Brew. 115(4), 334–360, 2009
ABSTRACT
The mature barley seed proteome is dominated by proteins involved in stress responses, including the Pathogenesis-Related proteins (PRs). PRs are currently classified into 17 families. The biochemistry of the PRs families, whose members are constitutively present in barley seed, is surveyed in this paper. These proteins are assumed to protect dormant and germinating seeds against pathogenic microorganisms and pests. The current knowledge on PRs structural and functional properties is summarized in an attempt to illustrate their importance in barley seed innate resistance. At the same time, a platform to understand PRs technological function in cereal foods and in beverage processing and quality is provided. Key words: Antimicrobial activity, barley seed, biological function, innate resistance, pathogenesis-related proteins (PRs), stress response, technological function. Load full article, 27 pages, 959 kb , PDF file