Czech Republic: Hops exports fell 15% in 2006

A total of 4,442 tonnes of Czech hops were exported to 44 countries last year, a fall of 15.4 percent from 5,249 tonnes in 2005, secretary of the Czech Hop Growers' Association Zdenek Rosa told Czech News Agency, March 15.

He said a record crop in 2005 and lower harvest in 2006 are to blame for the fall in exports. Japan is the biggest buyer accounting for more than 44 percent of exports last year, Rosa said. Hops are supplied to Germany and Britain. Exports rose to China, Russia, Belgium and Slovakia last year. Breweries in Romania, Belarus, India, the USA, Ukraine, Cuba and Vietnam are also major customers.

Hops exports amounted to Kc812m and imports stood at Kc116.4m, said Rosa. Hop growers harvested 5,453 tonnes of the crop last year, down 30.4 percent year-on-year. A per hectare yield of 1.01 tonne was 0.37 tonne lower than in 2005. The harvest had been affected by the spring floods, long winter, cold late May and early June, and tropical heat in July.

By area of hop fields, the Czech Republic ranks third in the world after Germany and the USA.

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