Bulgaria: Beer production hits eight-year high last year
Beer sales in Bulgaria reached 500 million levs ($294.7 million/255.6 million euro) last year, the Union of Brewers in Bulgaria (UBB) said on July 19.
The volume of beer produced in Bulgaria in 2016 hit an eight-year high of 5.18 million hectolitres, UBB said in a statement.
The UBB members - Zagorka, part of Dutch group Heineken, Kamenitza, owned by U.S.-based Molson Coors, Carlsberg Bulgaria, part of Danish brewer Carlsberg, and locally-owned brewers Boliarka VT, Britos and Lomsko pivo - held a share of 98%-99% of the total production volume in 2016.
Beer imports into Bulgaria fell by 2% in 2016, while exports rose 8%.
During the first half of 2017, sales volume stayed at last years level, according to the brewers' union. Six new beer brands were launched by the UBB members in the first half of 2017.