E-Malt.com News article: Poland: Kompania Piwowarska beer sales up 13.6% in 2007

In 2007 the domestic sales of Kompania Piwowarska (KP), the largest brewery in Poland, exceeded 14.1m hl of beer, reflecting a 13.6% increase in comparison with 2006, Polish market reported February 12.

The highest growth rate was witnessed in the first six months of the year, when sales volume increased by 21% year on year. For the year as a whole the company increased its share of the domestic market by approximately 2 p.p., to 40%.

Interestingly, export sales volume increased much more significantly, by 67% to more than 304,000 hl, and Kompania Piwowarska therefore became the leading exporter of Polish beer. The most important foreign markets for the company were: the UK, Germany, Ireland, Canada and the USA.

According to the general director of KP, Dieter Schulze, in 2008 sales of beer on the Polish market will increase but not as vigorously as they did in 2007. The main reason why the growth rate may slow is the comparatively unavoidable increases in beer prices, a result of the recent substantial rises in the prices of components and packaging.

The Association of Beer Industry Employers estimates that sales of beer in 2008 may grow by less than 5%.


13 February, 2008