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.

Australia: You booze you lose

Australia | Your next round at the pub is set to get more expensive as Australia’s alcohol tax, on 5 August, went up by 2.2 percent, after jumping 1.8 percent six months previously.

Finally: Coopers brewery opens new visitor centre on 28 August

Australia | Coopers Brewery unveiled its much-anticipated AUD 70 million (USD 46 million) visitor centre in Adelaide on 7 August. Located next to the brewery, it sports a restaurant and three bars, an expansive outdoor plaza, a microbrewery, and a whisky distillery with an underground stillage for 5000 whisky barrels.

Kirin buys Fancl in shift away from beer

Japan | From beer to lipsticks: what a drastic diversification plan. Kirin Holdings is buying the Japanese skincare and cosmetics brand Fancl for around USD 1.4 billion as part of an effort to reduce its reliance on beer, Japanese media reported on 14 June.

Heineken shutters a Vietnam brewery as beer consumption plummets

Vietnam | Heineken does not seem to bank on beer consumption recovering quickly. It has shuttered its brewery in Quang Nam Province in order to cut costs amid plummeting beer sales, local media reported on 25 June.