Australia’s craft brewers Hawkers and White Bay merge

Australia | Two of Australia's best-known independent brewers have joined forces to better withstand industry headwinds and financial challenges. Hawkers from Melbourne and White Bay from Sydney have merged to form the Social Drinks Group, raising AUD 1.5 million (USD 930 000) in fresh capital and appointing a new CEO.

Tim Cooper steps down after 23 years as Coopers’ Managing Director

Australia | As part of its succession planning, Dr Tim Cooper, the Managing Director of Australia’s largest family-owned beer group, Coopers Brewery, is stepping down after 23 years. On 1 March, Dr Cooper, 68, will be succeeded by Michael Shearer, currently Coopers’ General Manager. Mr Shearer is the first non-family member to run the brewery in its 163-year-long history. He will oversee the further development of the 6th generation Coopers currently working in the business.

India | Heineken’s Indian unit United Breweries will resume beer supplies to Telangana state, the company said on 20 January. It had halted supplies on 8 January, claiming the government’s delayed payments and non-approval to higher base prices since 2019/20 had rendered its beer business in Telangana unviable.

India | In an unprecedented move, Heineken’s Indian unit, United Breweries, suspended the supply of beer to the southern Indian state of Telangana, following the state's refusal to allow for price rises, which the company said had resulted in huge losses and rendered operations in Telangana unviable.

Taiwan launches anti-dumping probe into cheap Chinese beer

Taiwan | The aggressive pricing of Chinese beer, unfair trade practices and misleading labelling are hurting the domestic beer industry. In response, Taiwan’s finance ministry said on 2 January, that it plans to launch an anti-dumping investigation into mainland China beer imports, following a formal application from the Taiwan Brewers Association. The review is expected to take eight months to a year to complete, according to customs administration officials.

Heineken to build a brewery in Dubai

The Netherlands | For a long time, alcohol was banned in Dubai, then taxed at an extremely high rate. Last year, regulations were slightly relaxed. Now Dubai is poised to get the Gulf’s first brewery. A Heineken joint venture plans to produce popular beer brands in the emirate.

Foreign distillers upbeat on China market despite sales slump and tariffs

China | Diageo, Pernod Ricard and other global whisky makers are optimistic about the Chinese market, despite tumbling sales in the first nine months of this year and the imposition of tariffs on European brandy.

Coopers Brewery defies the struggling Australian beer market

Australia | A new lager beer release plus a surge in homebrewing kits fuelled strong sales growth for Australia’s largest independently-owned brewer Coopers. It posted a 1.5 percent rise in total beer sales for the 2024 financial year (ended 30 June), defying a year-on-year 2.6 percent decline in total Australian beer sales. Coopers’ beer sales, excluding non-alcoholic beers, hit 787 000 hl, up from 776 000 hl the previous year.

China’s brewers and distillers bank on rising number of high-earners

China | Western palates do not take easily to the taste of China’s national spirit baijiu. Smelling of vodka flavoured with fish sauce, as some say, it is an acquired taste. Regardless of what foreign investors privately think of baijiu, they have recently begun to buy shares in its makers.

AB InBev's Oriental Brewery buys Jeju Soju

Korea | More booze for AB-InBev. After the launch of a Budweiser Magnum whisky in India, AB-InBev’s Oriental Brewery (OB) agreed on 11 September, to purchase Jeju Soju from Shinsegae to move into the traditional Korean distilled liquor market, the two companies said.