JAPAN: Japanese April beer shipment down from last year

By just-drinks.com editorial team | 15 May 2008

Beer shipment by Japan's five largest brewers fell 11.3% to a combined 245,666 kilolitres in April from a year earlier, due to price hikes by brewery giant Asahi.

According to data released by the Brewery Association of Japan today (15 May), Asahi raised its beer prices and those of its other beer-like products from 1 March to reflect the higher cost of malt, corn, aluminium and other materials.

The price hike is the first for the company in 18 years.

In March, beer shipment by the five brewers dropped 28.7%, which was the largest fall since the industry started compiling data in their current form in 1992, the industry report said.

Of the beer-like beverages made by Japanese brewers, low-malt "happoshu" shipment was down 2.5%, while shipment of "third-sector" beverages rose 9.3%, the report said.

Japan's five largest brewers are Asahi, Sapporo Breweries of Sapporo Holdings and Kirin Brewery of Kirin Holdings.

Sectors: Beer & cider

Companies: Asahi, Sapporo, Kirin