Mexicans still enjoy their beer

In a statement Grupo Modelo reports that during the third quarter, total volume of beer sold reached 13.7 million hl, which represents a 3.2 percent increase compared with the same period last year. Volume in the domestic market totalled 9.4 million hl, which represents a 7.0 percent growth compared with the third quarter of 2008. Domestic brands were up 7.6 percent, benefitting from favourable weather during the quarter as well as the implementation of initiatives to improve execution in the market, the brewer says.

Export volume sales shrank 4 percent to 4.3 million hl beer for the quarter as a result of the economic crisis which has affected consumption in several export markets, Grupo Modelo reported.

However, for the first nine months of 2009, total Grupo Modelo sales rose by 9 percent to MXN 61.5 billion (USD 4.6 billion) upon a volume sales increase of just 1 percent to 39.6 million hl.

Exports for the first nine months of 2009 declined 5 percent and now represent only 30.1 percent of the total volume compared to 32 percent a year earlier.