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Russiaâ€™s Baltika to triple beer output in Azerbaijan-based brewery

13 October 2008 16:14 (UTC +04:00)

BakÄ±. Nicat Mustafayev â€“ APA-Economics. Russiaâ€™s Baltika Breweries plans to increase beer output to 2 million decaliters a year from 0.7 million decaliters in Azerbaijan, said Anton Artemirev, President of Baltika Breweries that owns the largest brewery in Azerbaijan.
â€œBeer is mostly sold in Azerbaijan in summer. Almost most part of 0.7 million decaliters,â€ he added.
According to him, the acquisition of Baku-Castel Brewery in Azerbaijan has been completed.
â€œCompared to summer, beer consumption drops 14-fold in Azerbaijan in winter. After we upgrade the brewery here, we plan to export beer to other countries in winter. From next year, we will produce local brands, like Xirdalan, 33 Export, Bizim Pive, Efsane and our brands Baltika, Arsenalnoye, Nevskoye and other brands here. We will produce high-quality superpremium, premium and economy beers in Azerbaijan,â€ he added.
Baltika Breweries has been the leader on the Russian beer market since 1996. the Baltika brand holds the second place in Europe in terms of sales.
In 2006, average per capita consumption of beer in Azerbaijan was 3.9 liters while the figure reached 6 liters in 2007, considerably below the average level of beer consumption in the CIS countries (54 liters) and in countries with a similar demographic structure and culture.
In total 2.4 million decaliters of beer is drunk in Azerbaijan a year.
Local market in Azerbaijan is dominantly supplied by Khirdalan, Efes and Baltika beers.
Baltika owns a 92% stake in Baku-Castel Brewery.