Japan: Shipments of beer and beer-like beverages suffered the first decline in four months

Shipments of beer and beer-like beverages by Japan's top five producers fell 3.5% year-on-year in November 2005, the first decline in four months, Kyodo News communicated on November 11.

That was a turnaround from strong sales the year before, which were attributable to unseasonably warm weather, according to the Brewers Association of Japan and beer makers.

Shipments by Kirin Brewery Co., Asahi Breweries Ltd., Suntory Ltd., Orion Breweries Ltd. and Sapporo Breweries Ltd. this November came to 39.05 million cases. One case holds 20 633-milliliter bottles.

Shipments of so-called "third-category beer," or beer-like drinks subject to lower liquor taxes, rose 220% to 7.22 million cases as brewers marketed new drinks under existing product lines. The new beverages accounted for 18.5% of overall beer shipments, Kyodo reported.

Regular beer shipments dropped 9.8% to 21.71 million cases, the first drop in two months. "Happoshu" low-malt beer shipments slumped 28.6% to 10.12 million cases for the 16th straight month of decline as brisk sales of third-category beer ate into those of low-malt beer.

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