Half million hectoliters less beer consumed last year than 2007

The economic crisis has reached the Hungarian brewing industry. The total sales of the breweries decreased by 7 percent, compared to the previous year. The growth trend of the previous years has ended.

The total sales of the Hungarian breweries was 7.181 million hectoliters in 2008, while in 2007 it was 7.7 million hectoliters. Domestic sales decreased by about 10 percent, exports increased by 73 percent. Because of the declining sales, the brewing industry paid about 57 billion HUF tax last year, 5 billion HUF less than in 2007 – reports ProfitLine.hu. on the basis of the datas of the Hungarian Association of Brewers.