1. GLOBAL BEER MARKET - SNAPSHOT
The global beer market was valued at approximately $507bn in 2008, an increase of 1.8% over
2007. Business Insights forecasts that the value of the global beer market will grow at a CAGR
of 1.6% during 2007–12 to reach a total value of $540bn in 2012. A shift in preference for
premium beer in emerging markets and product differentiation will help to drive an increase in
beer market value through 2012. However, the recession and down-trading might reduce the
pace of premiumization of beer. In addition, increase in preference for spirits, wines and healthy
drinks will to some extent dent the market size of beer.
Selected highlights:
Europe accounted for 49.1% of the global beer market by value in 2008, followed by Asia-
Pacific (22.9%), North America (17.7%), South and Central America (8.6%) and Africa and
Middle East (1.8%).
Consolidation in the beer industry has changed the leading company, with A-B InBev becoming
the market leader based on sales of $21,727m in 2008, followed by Heineken ($16,854m),
pushing SABMiller ($15,751m) down to third rank. Carlsberg had the highest sales growth of
25.5% during 2005–08 primarily driven by its acquisition of Scottish & Newcastle’s (S&N’s)
operations in Russia.
Consolidation in the beer industry is set to continue, but deal sizes will decline, owing to the
limited availability of funds in the challenging economic environment. Most of the focus will be
on the emerging beer markets in Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe.
1. Belgium-based Anheuser-Busch InBev, makers of Budweiser & Armstrong (50:50 joint venture
with the Hyderabad-based Crown Beers)
2. Netherland-based Heineken, makers of Heineken, Canon, Baron’s & Tiger (though Singapore-
based Asia Pacific Breweries acquired 76% stake in Aurangabad Breweries)
3. SABMiller, makers of Foster’s (acquired India-based Shaw Wallace’s beer portfolio Hayward’s for
a reported US$264m in 2003)
4. Japan based Kirin Brewery Holdings (Kirin) ???
5. Denmark-based Carlsberg (through South-Asia Breweries acquired Himneel Breweries in
Himachal Pradesh for around US$8m and also acquired Kolkata-based Parag Brewery for
US$7.9m in 2007)
6. Japan-based Asahi Breweries ???
7. Mexico based Grupo Modelo, makers of Corona
8. Molson Coors (Merger of Canada based Molson and US based Coors)
9. Mexico based FEMSA (FEMSA Cerveza)
10. UK based Diageo, makers of Guinness beer
 Mysore Breweries, original makers of Cobra beer, beer was licensed to UK by Karan Billimoria

2. Indian Beer Market
 Indian Beer market is around $ 2.3 billion in 2008
 UB Group and SAB Miller accounts for around 80% market share with UB Group at 46% and Sab
Miller at 33% respectively.
 Beer sales in India rose 17 percent in 2007 to 12.4 million hectoliters, or 1.2 liters per person,
making India the world’s 28th-largest market, Canadean and Euromonitor data show. By
contrast, the Chinese, targeted by brewers in the past decade as Europeans consumed less beer,
drink an average 25 liters per person. The global average is 22.1 liters.
 Canadean predicts that beer consumption in India will reach 21 mhl by 2012 and the growth
between 2006 and 2012 will reach 16 per cent per annum. This is a good sign for the future.