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Vietnamese drink 1 billion liters of beer in 4 months

Brewers in Vietnam produced more than a billion liters of beer in January-April, mostly for domestic consumption, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Production was up 5.8 percent over last year, VnExpress quoted a ministry report as saying, while per capita consumption in the country of 90 million has been 11.1 liters in four months.
But br$$$$$es’ profits fell as special consumption tax increased from 50 percent to 55 percent this year. It will continue to increase to 65 percent by 2018.
Le Hong Xanh, board member of Saigon Beer-Alcohol-Beverage Joint Stock Corporation (Sabeco), said, “This will affect profit and increase beer prices,” adding that Sabeco – known for its Saigon Beer – is considering increasing prices.

Vietnam is among the leading countries in beer consumption a glass of beer is often available for a mere 50 US cents.
In related news, the Vietnam Association of Financial Investors has recommended that the government should sell its stakes in Sabeco and Hanoi Beer and Beverage Company (Habeco) totally worth around US$3 billion at current prices.

The government owns 90 percent of Sabeco and 82 percent of Habeco.
In 2014 Thai Beverage, owned by billionaire Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, offered to buy the stocks of Sabeco from the government for $2 billion.
Denmark’s Carlsberg Br$$$$$es owns 17.23 percent of Habeco and is seeking to raise its stakes to more than 30 percent in the Hanoi-based brewer.
Sabeco has a 46 percent beer market share and Habeco, 17.3 percent.