China was the world's top beer producer for the fourth consecutive year in 2005, widening its lead over second-place United States, Kirin Brewery Co. figures showed on Aug 24.

China produced 30.62 million kiloliters, up 10.3 percent from a year earlier, while U.S. production fell 0.7 percent to 23.08 million kiloliters. It was the first time that a single country's production exceeded 30 million kiloliters since Kirin started compiling figures in 1975. Japan ranked seventh for the third straight year with production of 6.36 million kiloliters, down 3.7 percent.