Japan Shipment of Beer, Beer-Like Drinks Down 3.5% in November on Yr

By Kyodo News International, Tokyo

Dec. 12–TOKYO — Shipments of beer and beer-like alcoholic beverages by Japan’s top five producers fell 3.5 percent year-on-year this November, the first decline in four months, industry figures showed Monday.

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 sparkling drinks subject to lower liquor taxes, rose 220 percent to 7.22 million cases as brewers marketed new drinks under existing product lines. The new beverages accounted for 18.5 percent of overall beer shipments.

Regular beer shipments dropped 9.8 percent to 21.71 million cases, the first drop in two months. “Happoshu” low-malt beer shipments slumped 28.6 percent 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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