Poland: Polish breweries to have increased beer sales by 5% in 2005

Polish breweries sold over 5 % beer more in 2005 than a year earlier. In 2006, the growth rate is expected to be smaller, according to Polish. Polish beer producers had a great year 2005. Sales exceeded 30m hl of the beverage, which means a 5.1 % increase in comparison to 2004. This year’s forecasts amount to 2-3 %.

“Since 1990, beer production tripled. Clients changed their preferences from strong alcohols to beer. Average beer consumption rose to 80 liters per person a year. We are getting close to the European average, so it will be more and more difficult to increase sales”, Pawel Sudol, the CEO of Kompania Piwowarska stated.

The Poles spent PLN 14.5 billion (EUR 3.8 billion) to buy beer in 2005. Beverages paid PLN 6 billion of taxes to the budget.

Kompania Piwowarska is the leader in Poland. The company sold 11.2 million hectolitres of beer, or 12.6 % more than in 2004, giving it 37.1 % market shares. Zywiec is the second largest brewery. Carlsberg Polska had its best year in history. Sales increased by 7 % to 4.3 million hectolitres of beer.

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