Western firms’ direct losses in Russia estimated at over USD 167 billion

Russia | Prior to the Ukraine war, Russia was a key market for many multinational firms. Due to sanctions, ethical concerns, and operational challenges, more than 1300 companies have reduced or ceased their operations. By March 2025, 475 companies had fully exited.

Austria | As Brau Union denies any wrong-doing and is in combat mood, it turned down the judge’s earlier offer of a settlement. Therefore, court proceedings over its alleged abuses of market dominance continued on 3 June. The first witness, a former beer distributor, raised the curtain and got things going.

Heineken cannot force retailer Jumbo to re-list its products, judge says

The Netherlands | A legal setback for Heineken: the supermarket group Jumbo may continue to refrain from purchasing Heineken products. This was ruled by the Oost-Brabant court in summary proceedings on 22 May. Heineken had filed summary proceedings against Jumbo in early May because many of the Dutch group's beers had disappeared from the shelves over a pricing dispute - after some sixty years of partnership.

Czech beer exports rise while domestic consumption declines

Czech Republic | According to figures from the Czech Breweries and Maltsters Association, beer production in 2024 hit a 15 year high. Czech breweries produced 4.2 percent more beer than in 2023, to reach 20.9 million hl.

AB-InBev-Efes launches iced tea in Russia

Russia | Russia's largest brewer, AB-InBev-Efes has started to make Zeno iced tea in two flavours, green tea and black lemon tea, the newspaper Kommersant reported in May. AB-InBev-Efes, which was put under interim administration by Russian President Vladimir Putin in December 2024, is thus pushing further into the soft drinks market amid flat beer sales. The soft drinks are produced in facilities in Omsk and Ivanovo.

Trappist abbey and brewery Maria Toevlucht may close

The Netherlands | The Dutch are set to lose one of their two Trappist breweries. The Noord-Brabant abbey Maria Toevlucht (Mary of Refuge) in Zundert will close as there are too few monks to sustain a community, Dutch media reported on 14 May.

AB-InBev’s first quarter: profit up, volume sales down

Belgium | People around the world are drinking less beer, at least that by AB-InBev. And yet the group, on 8 May, reported first-quarter net profit of USD 2.15 billion, nearly twice what it was a year ago. Revenue was up 1.5 percent year-over-year to USD 13.6 billion, but volume sales were down 2.2 percent.

Indie brewers kept out of UK pubs by multinationals, survey finds

United Kingdom | A new report by the Society of Independent Brewers and Associates (SIBA), which was published on 28 April, shows that whilst demand for independent beer remains strong, UK brewers face strong headwinds from increased taxation, market access restrictions and reduced alcohol consumption.

Swedish microbreweries can sell beer to visitors after a “lecture”

Sweden | Sweden’s parliament voted in favour of the government’s draft law to legalise on-site sales for small breweries, wineries and distilleries. The proposal passed with 154 votes for and 129 votes against on 23 April.

United Kingdom | The UK Prime Minister beat US President Trump to the line in the race for a trade deal with India. It is not exactly the deepest and most comprehensive trade deal the UK has ever signed, but the timing (6 May) could not be more fortunate. Scotch whisky distillers were elated.