China: Beer sales drop 4.7% in 2016
Chinese beer sales were 450.6 mln hl 2016, which represents a 4.7% decline versus 2015 and an 8.4% decline versus 2012, H. M. Gauger GmbH reported.
A further reduction is forecast. The question is, whether craft beer and premium beer require larger malt purchases. Exporters of malting barley still hope for a Chinese annual import demand of 3.0 3.5 mln tonnes, the Gauger analysts said.