Japan: April beer shipments up 2.7% y/y

Shipments of beer by the five largest Japanese brewers amounted to 277,039 kiloliters last month, 2.7 pct more than a year earlier and up for the second straight month, according to data from industry groups, XFN-Asia reported May 15.

Increased marketing efforts helped raise beer shipments last month, the beer association said.

Shipments of low-malt "happoshu" drinks climbed 0.7 pct to 130,115 kiloliters, the first increase in two months while shipments of "third-sector" beverages fell 37.3 pct to 100,608 kiloliters.

Japan's five largest brewers are listed firms Sapporo Breweries Ltd, Asahi Breweries Ltd and Kirin Brewery Co Ltd, as well as Suntory and Orion.