Slovakia: Beer sales down 4% in 2006

According to Slovakian Beer and Malt Producers’ Association, beer sales decreased almost by 4% in 2006, to 3.8 mln hectoliters.

Exports have also fallen till 36200 hectolitres compared with 118400 in 2005, caused mainly by the higher cost of licensing, according to Roman Sustak, the association’s managing director.

Heineken Slovensko accounted 45.6% of market share, while SABMiller’s Pivovary Topvar – 39.2%.

Heineken closed its third brewery in Slovakia blaming the beer market negative trend. Heineken, with only one brewery in the country, said the high tax on beer and the lower price in neighbouring countries was affecting negatively the beer consumption.

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