Poland: Polish breweries to have increased beer sales by 5% in 2005

Polish breweries sold over 5 % beer more in 2005 than a year earlier. In 2006, the growth rate is expected to be smaller, according to Polish. Polish beer producers had a great year 2005. Sales exceeded 30m hl of the beverage, which means a 5.1 % increase in comparison to 2004. This year�s forecasts amount to 2-3 %.

�Since 1990, beer production tripled. Clients changed their preferences from strong alcohols to beer. Average beer consumption rose to 80 liters per person a year. We are getting close to the European average, so it will be more and more difficult to increase sales�, Pawel Sudol, the CEO of Kompania Piwowarska stated.

The Poles spent PLN 14.5 billion (EUR 3.8 billion) to buy beer in 2005. Beverages paid PLN 6 billion of taxes to the budget.

Kompania Piwowarska is the leader in Poland. The company sold 11.2 million hectolitres of beer, or 12.6 % more than in 2004, giving it 37.1 % market shares. Zywiec is the second largest brewery. Carlsberg Polska had its best year in history. Sales increased by 7 % to 4.3 million hectolitres of beer.