Brewers have long struggled to lure tipplers away from domestic rum and whisky. Despite the proliferation of bars and microbreweries across urban India, the country still has one of the world’s lowest per capita rates of beer consumption at just 4.6 litres. Heineken, AB-InBev and Carlsberg together control about 90 percent of the 26 million hl beer market.

Another exciting year for Australia’s family-owned Coopers Brewery from Adelaide. As said Managing Director Dr Tim Cooper, “in the 2017 financial year, we enjoyed further growth in our beer volumes of 2.9 percent. Our Coopers brands have continued to show some improvement, but we have also enjoyed good growth in our partner brands of Carlsberg, Sapporo, Brooklyn, Olympic and Thatchers.”

Turks like to joke that the best you can get from a mix of grapes, sugar and aniseed is raki. Until 2003 raki was manufactured in Turkey exclusively by the state. However, one year after the currently ruling party AKP took office (2002), the monopolist producer was privatized, allegedly in preparation for Turkey’s accession to the EU. Nothing has come of this yet, but one side effect is that suddenly dozens of raki brands of varying alcohol content, taste and aroma hit store shelves.

As could be expected, Asahi only managed to dispose of its 20 percent stake in the country’s number three brewer Tsingtao by putting it back into Chinese hands. In December 2017, it sold its holding to the conglomerate Fosun Group and Tsingtao itself for USD 941 million.

Apparently, Asian buyers like investing in Australia. After a wave of Japanese investments in Australian beer and food companies, it’s the turn of the Chinese.

The Independent Brewers Association (IBA) has developed an independence seal, which it plans to launch in early 2018. This seal, available exclusively to IBA’s 200 or so members, will enable consumers to readily identify beers produced by independent brewers, as opposed to larger corporate-produced beers.

ThaiBev, the brewer of Chang beer, which is controlled by the billionaire Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, emerged as the only bidder in the much anticipated privatisation of the country’s largest brewer Sabeco. The auction was held on 18 December 2017.

ThaiBev’s geographical and business diversification seems to have paid off. It could afford to buy a majority stake in Vietnam’s major brewer Sabeco in December 2017 for about USD 4.8 billion whereas other foreign brewers balked at the price.

The long-delayed sale of a stake in Sabeco, the country’s biggest brewer, has finally been set for 18 December 2017. The government hopes it will rake in at least USD five billion.

The first ever drink technology India (dti) in New Delhi got off to: the regional spin-off of the leading trade fair for the Indian beverage, dairy and liquid food industry, together with the partner events of Messe Düsseldorf, occupied 11 000 m2 of floor space at the Pragati Maidan exhibition center in New Delhi during its debut event. Dr. Reinhard Pfeiffer, Deputy CEO of Messe München, was impressed with the successful inaugural event: “We’re thrilled that the premiere here in New Delhi was so popular with our exhibitors and visitors. The results highlight the enormous potential of the Indian beverage industry. By alternating between different regions of India and introducing the new annual format we have created the perfect conditions to be able to serve the entire Indian beverage, dairy and liquid food industry.”