The Czech Republic: Czech brewers export record volume last year

Czech breweries exported a record 6.13 million hectolitres of beer last year, the Czech Statistical Office announced in Prague on February 14.

The largest volumes of Czech beer were consumed in Slovakia, Germany, Poland and Russia.

Tomás Slunecko, executive chairman of the Czech Breweries Association, drew attention to the fact that beer consumption has been steadily increasing in recent years even in countries that were previously known for consuming wine or other alcoholic beverages.

“A good example of this is Spain, Portugal and France. In these countries, Czech beer is also becoming increasingly popular alongside local beers,” the president told reporters.

He explained that the demand for Czech beer is partly due to the fact that products from Czech breweries, such as the best-known product of the long-established Japanese-owned Pilsen brewery Prazdroj, Pilsner Urquell, are sold at affordable prices abroad. “It is unfortunate that the prices of many popular beers have risen too much at home (in the Czech Republic), which has led to stagnation or a decrease in demand,” the beer industry expert noted.

The state-owned Budejovicky Budvar brewery last year delivered a record 1.9 million hectolitres of beer to its foreign customers, representing 70 percent of its production.