Taiwan: Taiwan’s top brewers form Taiwan Brewers Association

Taiwan’s top six brewers announced the formation of the Taiwan Brewers Association (TBA) at a press conference on Monday, August 5.

The association will promote the local brewing industry by lobbying the government to promote policies that support local brewers and increase import barriers. Members of the new association include Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Company (TTL), Heineken, Taihu Craft Brewing, Zhangmen Craft Brewing, Buckskin, and Sunmai, per UDN.

Ting Yen-che, TBA and TTL chair, said the association will integrate opinions within the industry and seek shared prosperity for all members. TBA members have agreed to goals such as cultivating local brewing talent, innovating local agricultural products for beer production, promoting net-zero sustainable brewing, cultivating Taiwanese brewing culture, implementing responsible drinking, and working with the government and society to better Taiwan.

Ting said the two major challenges the domestic brewing industry face are net zero carbon reduction, and reversing declining market share for locally brewed products, especially low-cost beer imports from China. Ting said these two challenges require cooperation and joint efforts from the industry and the government.

Rebecca Kuo, secretary-general of TBA, said many beer exporting countries benefit from supportive government policies, though Taiwan’s brewing industry lacks such support and vision. Local brewers can help the domestic economy by supporting local agricultural products and streamlining production and distribution, which can minimize environmental impact.

Kuo said forming TBA will create opportunities to re-examine the current beer tax system, potentially granting tax exemptions or discounts to breweries that support the economy and grow tax revenue. Kuo said such measures would also attract more manufacturers to invest and build a better ecosystem for all of Taiwan's breweries.

Ho Chih-wei, deputy secretary-general of the Presidential Office, said that the proportion of beer produced in China has increased from only 8% of the domestic market in 2015, to the current market share of 34%. Ho said the government should support local breweries to make Taiwanese-made beer more competitive.

Ho said that the formation of TBA is an important first step, not only the first time Taiwan’s major brewers have gathered together, but secondly, promoting responsible drinking as a consensus opinion, and third, breaking down the barriers between local brewers.

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