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 associations managing director.
Heineken Slovensko accounted 45.6% of market share, while SABMillers 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.