World: Beer markets of the world

- April sales in Germany minus 0.8 %, equal to minus 2.8 % for the calendar year.

- The Czech Republic reports a minus of 1.6 % for the first quarter of 2005.

- France an incredible minus of 8 %.

- In Japan total sales increased by 3.3 % in April, however, conventional beer sales dropped 7.3 %, happoshu by 21.6 %, while “fake beer”, brewed without any malt, gained a market share of 19.4 %.

- The three large brewers of Poland produced 5.66 million hl in January-March, a plus of 4.4 %.

- Russia reports a plus of 16 % for the BBH breweries, but a lower output of Heineken and Ochakovo.

- The AmBev breweries produced 12.9 % more in South America, in Brazil alone plus 7.3 % in the first quarter.

- Modelo of Mexico reports a plus of 12 %, export grew by 23.6 %.