Cold June chills growth of beer market

VILNIUS (BNS) - Cold June weather has put the intensive growth of the Lithuanian beer market over the preceding months into suspended animation.

In June, compared to May, the market contracted 6.1 percent, and compared with June of 1999, by 2.7 percent.

Lithuania's beer market over the first half of this year, however, grew by 18.7 percent.

The Lithuanian Brewers Association predicts 10 percent to15 percent growth in the beer market this year.

The association's statistics show the 11 largest domestic beer producers sold 9.785 dekaliters of beer over the months January to June.

The major players in the domestic beer market remained the same: Svyturys, controlled by Denmark's Calrsberg (see photo), and Utenos Alus and Kalnapilis, both of which are controlled by the Scandinavian concern Baltic Beverages Holding.

Over January to June, Svyturys sold 2.58 million dal, or 30 percent more than last year over the same period.

Utenos Alus takes second place in terms of sales this year. Over six months it sold 2.267 million dal, or 35.3 percent more than in the first half of 1999.

Over the first half Kalnapilis sold 2.194 million dal of beer, or 37 percent more than last year (1.601 dal). This brewer takes third in the top 11. Svyturys took 26.4 percent, Utenos Alus 23.2 percent, Kalnapilis 22.4, Vilniaus Tauras 10.4, Ragutis 7.3 and Gubernija 5.2 percent of the domestic beer market.