Miller Brewing Co.'s parent SABMiller plc said that sales and production growth in China have made its Chinese joint venture the largest brewer in the country.

In the 12 months ended in June, SABMiller's joint venture, CR Snow Breweries, sold more than 45 million hectoliters of beer, of which the Snow brand accounted for 21 million hectoliters. The sales figure gives CR Snow a market share of about 15 percent, ahead of its nearest competitor and the former leader in China, Tsingtao Brewery Co. Ltd.

Tsingtao is 27 percent owned by Milwaukee-based Miller Brewing's largest competitor, Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc., St. Louis. Anheuser-Busch is by far the largest brewer in the United States.

London-based SABMiller said between 1998 and 2006, the Chinese market grew at a compound annual growth rate of 8 percent to become the world's largest beer market, with volumes of approximately 300 million hectoliters in 2005.

Source:佚名