Japan: Beer exports up 35.7% last year

Japan exported a record high amount of beer last year on the back of rising global consumption of Japanese beer led by South Koreans, KBS World Radio News reported on March 12.

According to the Yomiuri Shimbun and Japanese Finance Ministry on March 12, Japan exported 12.8 billion yen, or 120 mln U.S. dollars worth of beer last year. The figure marks a 35.7 percent rise from a year earlier and the first time annual exports of Japanese beer surpassed ten billion yen.

Nearly 63 percent of its exports were shipped to South Korea. Taiwan also imported 1.4 billion yen worth, followed by the U.S. and Australia at 800 million yen each.

The rising popularity of Japanese foods was given credit for the surge in demand for Japanese beer.

Asahi was the best-selling Japanese beer in South Korea last year, posting a 55 percent on-year growth in shipments to the country.

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