Burundi: Brarudi unable to secure raw materials to produce Primus and Amstel beer

Beer in Burundi has significantly become a very difficult product to come across, Taarifa Rwanda reported on March 6.

Faced with increasing isolation, Burundi, ruled with an iron hand is one of the poorest countries in the world.

Burundi’s largest brewer and soft beverage company Brarudi S.A., also known by its French name Brasseries et Limonaderies du Burundi, has become a victim of controversial economic policies the government has put in place.

Brarudi has reported that it is unable to secure raw materials to produce a line of beverage products to the Burundi market.

The brewer said for example it was unable to produce Primus and Amstel beer brands and explains the reason for this shortage.

“The shortage of our products on the market is linked to logistical challenges on a global level following the security crisis in the Red Sea causing delays in the delivery of raw materials. Due to the limited availability of foreign currencies, Brarudi is not able to build up substantial stocks of raw materials to meet these logistical challenges,” explains Brarudi.

Asked what Brarudi is doing to alleviate this situation, the company said, “Brarudi is working with the government and is increasing initiatives to find lasting solutions to this shortage and continue to satisfy Burundian consumers.”

Even though exports are indeed a source of foreign currency for Brarudi and the country, “this is not the reason for the shortage in the country since it only represents a small part of our total volume”, said Brarudi.

The price has increased from 3,000 to 3,500 Burundi francs for the big Amstel, and from 2,200 to 2,500 francs for the big Primus.

“When we go to nearby depots, we are told that they have not been supplied by Brarudi for days. And to save our relationship with our customers, we choose to go further in search of these products “We use fuel, which is why we must raise the price,”Owners of bars explain.

According to sources at Brarudi who agreed to testify on condition of anonymity, the causes of this shortage are multiple.

“Brarudi has reduced its production from 2024. Instead of 300 thousand hectoliters, we only produce 250 thousand. And then, the domestic market is not good. A good quantity of production is sent to the DRC. It is a matter of the high authorities of the country and the management of our company. We cannot prohibit anything,” according to a source quoted by local press.

Production days have also been reduced, from 7 to 5 days per week.

“We close production on Friday at 6 p.m. to restart production on Monday morning. There is talk of a lack of foreign currency to import the necessary inputs, but we are not sure that this is true. There are things that are beyond our control,” say employees.

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