Japan’s malt imports dropped to 547,000 tonnes in 2003 from 617,000 tonnes a year earlier. Japan’s beer output of 64.857 million hl in 2003 was 6.3 % down from a year earlier. After another downfall in January, beer sales recovered to show a small plus for the first two months of the year combined. Happo-shi sales are now at even level with those of Pilsen beer. Japan is also selling “beer” now brewed without any malt at all. Since 1998 total sales of beer and happo-shi have dropped by 10 %, and one must wonder whether the production and promotion of low-cost beers has really been a success. In the wake of worldwide attention to food safety a Japanese brewer has changed buying patterns to safeguard completely sound condition of his malt deliveries.

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