The Czech Republic: Budejovicky Budvar’s output reaches highest level in its 124 years

Beer production at Budvar, which has been in a long legal dispute with U.S. giant Anheuser-Busch over use of the "Budweiser" brand, increased last year to the highest level in the brewer's 124-year history, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported on June 24.

Budejovicky Budvar NP, a Czech state-owned brewery, said on June 24 that its output rose 4.8% to 1.679 million hectolitres (44.36 million gallons) in 2019, before the pandemic hit global trade and business.

The brewer's exports were up 7.4% to 1.154 million hectolitres (30.49 million gallons) last year, also a record, to almost 80 countries. Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Russia and Britain were the biggest foreign markets for Budvar last year.

Budvar says its revenues hit a record high last year, reaching more than 2.8 billion crowns ($119 million). The profit figures have not been released.

The brewer has been expanding to be able to produce over 2 billion hectolitres of beer a year.

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