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South Africa | Vintners are bracing for a hit, after a 30 percent US tariff left them at a sharp disadvantage to their international rivals, the Financial Times reported on 8 August. Africa’s largest economy exports more than half of its wine production, valued at USD 500 million per year. The US was its fourth-largest market in 2024, after the UK, Germany and the Netherlands.
Kenya | A storm is brewing in Kenya over the latest proposals to restrict the sale and consumption of alcohol, including raising the minimum drinking age from 18 to 21, banning alcohol sales in supermarkets, restaurants, as well as online and home deliveries, the BBC reported on 31 July.
Kenya | British drinks firm Diageo has launched a review of its majority stake in listed brewer East African Breweries Ltd. (EABL). EABL has a market value of about USD 1.2 billion and Diageo is its largest shareholder with a 65 percent stake. The company has appointed Bank of America and Goldman Sachs to advise on the process, Bloomberg reported on 28 July.
Ethiopia | Kegna Beverages is making a USD 250 million investment in the beer market, officially opening a 3 million hl brewery in Ginchi, a town some 80 km west of the capital Addis Ababa in Oromia Regional State. The lager with the brand name Kegna (meaning “our”) is brewed with local barley and will hit the market immediately.
South Africa | On 2 April 2025, US President Donald Trump reached for an economic cudgel in the form of tariffs, and South African wine found itself slapped with a 30 percent levy. The US is South Africa’s fourth largest wine export market by value – USD 52 million worth of wine in 2024. During the 90-day grace period (until 8 July) the baseline tariff of 10 percent applies. But the 30 percent threat hangs over the industry like the sword of Damocles.
Spit Central African Republic | In the streets of Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic (CAR), the beer brand Africa Ti L’Or has imposed itself with disconcerting speed. Marketed as a national brand, it bears a promising name, “Africa is gold” in Sango, the lingua franca of the CAR. Despite evoking Africa’s wealth and pride, the beer is not what it claims to be. Allegedly, it is a toxic cocktail: a mixture of vodka, dubious water and, even worse, narcotic substances like tramadol.
South Africa | In an unprecedented move, the 2025 National Budget was cancelled minutes after it was supposed to be tabled in early February. Notice of the cancellation came after the members of the Government of National Unity (GNU), a coalition, could not agree on the proposed tax changes, particularly the increase in value-added tax (VAT) from 15 percent to 17 percent. Leaked documents showed that the government had plans to hike the excise duty on alcohol and tobacco by 6.83 percent, and above inflation.
Nigeria | The Nigerian brewing industry has been faced with inflationary pressures coupled with a Naira devaluation, which led to recurring losses. The country’ largest brewer, Nigerian Breweries, reported a post-tax loss of NGN 144.8 billion (USD 97 million) for its financial year 2024, as detailed in its financial report released on 14 February.
Zimbabwe | Delta Corp’s monopoly in the Zimbabwean beer market could fall. The Dutch family-owned brewer Royal Swinkels (formerly known as Bavaria) is exploring options to build a 200,000 hl brewery in the country, people close to the matter told BRAUWELT International. The project is at an advanced stage, they said.
Ethiopia | Ethiopian media were running ahead of things when they reported on 14 October, that Heineken had acquired Ethiopian RTD firm Komari Beverages, the manufacturer of the Arada range of hard seltzers. To date, the transaction has not been made official. When approached by the website just drinks, Heineken refused to comment on the rumour on 15 October.
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BRAUWELT on tour
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BRAUWELT on tour
