FDBusiness.com

SABMiller, through its joint venture with China Resources Enterprise, has strengthened its position within the fast growing Chinese beer market. China Resources Snow Breweries has entered into an agreement with China Kweichow Moutai Distillery Co to jointly invest in Guizhou Moutai Beer and form a joint venture called China Resources Snow Breweries (Junyi). As part of the transaction, CR Snow will inject approximately $42m in return for a 70% equity stake in the new joint venture.

With an annual production capacity of 1 million hectolitres, Moutai Beer is a popular brand with a strong competitive position in Guizhou Province. CR Snow already has a leading position in Guizhou Province, with a market share of approximately 50% and sales volume of over 1.8 million hectolitres in 2010. Since its entry into the Guizhou market in 2007, CR Snow’s sales volumes have grown at 40% per year, making Snow the most prominent brand in the province.

The brewing industry in Guizhou Province has been growing rapidly in recent years, with the overall sales volume in 2010 increasing by 10% year-on-year to 3.9 million hectoliters.