France: French brewers suspicious about the increase of barley price

After two years of steady consumption on the local beer market, French brewers became concerned about the increasing barley prices estimated to grow 50% in next months, AFP reported June 14.

�The tensions over barley prices will make them grow�, Gerard Laloi, President of French brewers said at a conference. Due to a sunny summer, the French market has remained quasi-stable in 2006, for a second year in a row, at 20.2 mil hl, after a continuous decrease of 25% in 25 years. The beer consumption in France constitutes 33 liters per capita, one of the weaker in Europe.

France is the 8th beer producer in Europe, with more than 16 mil hl, including 1.6 mil hl exported. With around 100.000 employees, the beer branch yields a global turnover of 12.6 billion euros. French Brewers Association unites 64 brewers and represents 99% of the market.