Czech Republic: Beer output rises 4.1% in 1H 2006
Czech breweries increased production by 4.1% in the first six months of the year to 9.52 million hectolitres on the back of surging exports, the head of the Czech Association of Breweries and Malthouses, Jan Vesely, told AFP August 02, Fin24 released August 02.
Brewers are likely to set a new production record this year with output probably climbing to around 19.5 million hectolitres, beating last year's record of 19.01 million hectolitres, Vesely added.
"That is mainly due to the increased export demand," Vesely explained. "Czech beer is probably the best in the world," he added.
Czech exports of beer are estimated to have risen by 15-20% in the first six months. Germany, Slovakia, Britain and the United States are the biggest buyers of Czech beer, Vesely added.
Some smaller Czech brewers have been opening up new markets, the business daily Hospodarske Noviny reported on Wednesday. The small Klaster brewery has dispatch 200 million hectolitres for sale in China.
North Czech based Drinks Union has begun exports to the small West African state of Benin after already launching sales in Liberia, it added.
"This is still peanuts at the moment but the most difficult thing is getting a foot in the door," Vesely said.
The country's biggest brewers, Plzensky Prazdroj and Staropramen, are owned by global beer giants SABMiller and INBev which are already trying to establish Czech beers as worldwide brands.
The Czech Association of Breweries and Malthouses has 48 members representing almost 100% of the country's beer production.
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