JAPAN: Beer shipments fall in Japan - again

By just-drinks.com editorial team | 11 July 2008

Shipments of beer in Japan fell 11.5% in June compared to the same month last year, according to local reports.

Shipments from the country's five largest brewers fell to 96,063 kilolitres in the month, the Brewery Association of Japan said.

Shipments of low-malt "happoshu" beverages fell 11.3%. Meanwhile, shipments of "third-sector" beverages rose 0.6% as drinker look for cheaper alternatives.

The fall in June shipments is the fourth month in a row that a drop has been recorded.

In May 2008, Japan's domestic shipments of beer and beer-like alcoholic drinks fell 1.9% from a year earlier.

Shipments of ''third category'' beers, which often use soybeans, corn and peas as their main ingredients, continue to grow, however, and June was the fourth month of growth for that category.

Sectors: Beer & cider