London-based brewer SABMiller reported that its Chinese joint venture, China Resources Snow Breweries, has become the largest brewer in China's mainland by sales volume and brewing capacity.

In the first six months of the year, CR Snow captured a 15 percent market share, ahead of its nearest competitor Tsingtao.

Snow Breweries purchased three local beer makers in the first six months and solidified its production and sales network across the mainland.

The beer market is highly regional.

In Shanghai, for instance, Japanese Suntory holds first place with more than one-third of the market. CR Snow is still at the beginning of its efforts to tap the city's beer drinkers.

CR Snow performed strongly in northern China as well as in Sichuan, Anhui and Hubei provinces.

Last year, total beer production exceeded 30 billion liters in the mainland, making the mainland the world's biggest brewer for a fourth straight year. Consumption is increasing at an average 6 percent annually.

In the next 10 years China's mainland will contribute 50 percent of the growth in the world's beer market.

Overseas brewers have been actively courting the market. SABMiller owns 49 percent of CR Snow, with Hong Kong-based China Resources holding the rest.

American Anheuser-Busch Co owns a 27 percent stake in Qingdao-based Tsingtao Brewery Co. Belgium based InBev acquired Chinese Fujian Sedrin Brewery Co Ltd in June for 5.9 billion Yuan (US$746 million).

Source:佚名