Bulgaria: Beer sales increased 36% in January this year

Domestic beer sales of Bulgaria increased by 36% year-on-year to 158,166 hectolitres in January 2006, according to the figures released by Union of Brewers in Bulgaria (UBB), Dnevnik News posted on February 14.

Heineken-owned Zagorka AD outperformed its rival Kamenitza AD in January 2006, selling 57,264 hl versus 54,815 hl for its InBev-owned competitor. Carlsberg Bulgaria moved 30,847 hl for the no.3 spot in January.

Locally-owned Boliarka VT reported sales of 12,420 hl in January on top of 378,223 hl for the entire 2005. Among the smaller UBB members, Lomsko Pivo reported January sales of 2,259 hl while Agrima posted 561 hl.

Kamenitza topped the 2005 market with 1,448 mln hl ahead of Zagorka with 1.415 mln hl. Carlsberg Bulgaria was a solid third with 887,063 hl.

Locally-owned beer makers Ledenika and MM do not report sales to the UBB.

E-malt.com, the global information source for the brewing and malting industry professionals. The bi-weekly E-malt.com Newsletters feature latest industry news, statistics in graphs and tables, world barley and malt prices, and other relevant information. Click here to get full access to E-malt.com. If you are a Castle Malting client, you can get free access to E-malt.com website and publications. Contact us for more information at marketing@castlemalting.com .