Plzenský Prazdroj announced its FY volumes last week

Plzenský Prazdroj announced its FY volumes last week

Plzenský Prazdroj saw its beer exports hit a new high in 2011, as domestic volumes held steady in the period.

The Czech brewer, which is owned by SABMiller and produces the Pilsner Urquell brand, said late last week that volumes in 2011 rose by 1% to around 9.9m hectolitres. Volume sales in Czech were flat on 2010 at 6.9m hl, with Pilsner Urquell outperforming both the beer market and the premium category, the company said.

Exports increased by 6% to 890,000 hl, a record for Plzenský Prazdroj. The company credited improved performances in several of its existing markets, such as Slovakia, Canada and Hungary.

Licensed production delivered a 2% increase last year, totalling 2.14m hl.

"After the past several years affected by adverse economic conditions, the market is slowly stabilising,” said company CEO Doug Brodman. “Premium brands and speciality beers did particularly well last year. Further development of the market may be impacted by the insecure economic situation in Europe and subdued consumer confidence.”