HA NOI (Biz Hub)— The beverage industry continued to grow over the first seven months of this year despite the difficult economic times that have resulted in many other kinds of companies struggling or going bust.

According to the Chairman of the Viet Nam Beer, Alcohol and Beverage Association, Nguyen Van Viet, the beverage industry has seen a year on year growth of 9.1 per cent, much higher than the 5.8 per cent growth recorded in the rest of the processing and manufacturing sector during the period.

It has produced over 1.6 billion litres of beer, an increase of 8.9 per cent compared to last year. The majority of the market share is still controlled by the Sai Gon Beer, Alcohol and Beverage Corporation (Sabeco), the Ha Noi Beer, Alcohol and Beverage Corporation (Habeco) and the multinational breweries Heineken and Carlsberg.

Sabeco and Habeco produced 778.8 million and 373.2 million litres of beer respectively, up 8.2 per cent and 10.4 per cent, while the other companies made up the other 478.6 million litres, up 8.8 per cent.

In the reviewed period, non-alcoholic beverages also witnessed an impressive growth, he said.

Viet Nam's annual per capita consumption of soft drinks has also risen sharply in recent years, from three litres in 2007 to 23 litres at present, Tran Quy Thanh, Chairman of Tan Hiep Phat Beverage Group, said.

However, consumption in the country remained only half that of the Philippines. — VNS