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2005 Shipments of Beer, Beer-Like Drinks Down 3.1%

Posted on: Wednesday, 18 January 2006, 18:02 CST

By Kyodo News International, Tokyo

Jan. 17--TOKYO -- Shipments of beer and beer-like alcoholic beverages by Japan's top five producers fell 3.1 percent in 2005 from the previous year for the first decline in two years, affected by colder than usual winter weather, industry figures showed Tuesday.

The downturn is also a reflection of strong sales in 2004 that were boosted by heat waves, 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. came to 501.01 million cases. One case holds 20 633-milliliter bottles.

All of the firms except Kirin saw their shipments decrease from the previous year. Kirin, who had long led the beer industry until it was overtaken by Asahi in 2001, marked the first shipment rise in seven years.

By the size of market share, Asahi held onto the top position at 38.8 percent while Kirin came second at 35.7 percent. But the difference in their shares has dwindled to 3.1 percentage points from 5.2 points the year before.

Sapporo ranked third at 14.2 percent, followed by Suntory and Orion at 10.5 percent and 0.8 percent, respectively.

Regular beer shipments dropped 7.9 percent to 282.33 million cases for the ninth consecutive year of decrease. Shipments of "happoshu" low-malt beer slumped 24.8 percent to 139.26 million cases for the third straight year of decline.

Shipments of so-called "third-category beer," or beer-like sparkling drinks, showed sharp growth, increasing 3.1-fold to 79.41 million cases and accounting for 15.9 percent of the market.

Third-category products are cheaper than regular beer and low-malt beer as they are taxed lower.

Four of the five major brewers had launched products in this category by April last year.

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Copyright (c) 2006, Kyodo News International, Tokyo

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Source: Kyodo News International, Tokyo

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