Russia: Premium segment increased its market share by 9% in April-May 2006
The demand for expensive beer is increasing in Russia, The Union of Russian Brewers stated in “The beer market results of the 1H of 2006”.
The middle cost segment is presently loosing positions to premium and licensed beer segments which saw sales growing by 9.1% during April-May 2006. Sales of middle cost beer went down by 3.3% year-on-year in 1Q 2006 to 53% of the beer market and finally regressed to 52.5% at the end of 1H 2006.
Russian brewers estimated that the increase of the premium beer segment is triggered by companies aiming to reinforce their market positions and promoting active market-directed strategies.