Japan's third-largest brewer, Sapporo Holdings Ltd, saw on December 30 its stocks up 3.19 % or 9 yen at 291 yen after Sapporo said on December 29 that sales of its Yebisu brand premium beer are set to exceed 10 million cases for the first time ever this year. The company said that Yebisu beer shipments would reach 10.01 million cases by the end of Tuesday, the final shipment date in 2003, up 16.7 % from the previous year, according to Reuters. The Yebisu brand comprises of Yebisu and Yebisu Black. Although Yebisu shipments are set to drop by 0.4% on last year, Yebisu Black was only launched in May of this year.

Other beer makers were also higher, with Kirin Brewery Co up 0.66 % at 909 yen and Asahi Breweries Ltd up 2.43 % at 970 yen.

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