Japan: Suntory aims to resume brewing at earthquake-hit Kyushu Kumamoto plant within the year

Suntory Holdings announced on the 10th that recovery at its Kyushu Kumamoto plant, damaged by the Kumamoto earthquake, is expected to take approximately three to four months, BiGo Finance reported.

Production equipment and portions of the building sustained damage, and operations are currently fully suspended. Beer production was shifted to plants in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Gunma starting August 1, while soft drink manufacturing was redirected to 10 domestic plants and contract partners from August 6, ensuring supply continuity.

The same plant was also damaged in the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake, requiring about a year and a half to normalize operations, with damages reaching approximately ¥10 billion (approximately $63.0 million). This time, the company aims to resume production within the year, with its business continuity plan (BCP), refined based on lessons from the previous disaster, contributing to the swift implementation of alternative production.

11 August, 2026