The current conflict in the Ukraine affected Czech brewery Budějovický Budvar’s exports to both Russia and Ukraine last year. Exports to Russia halted completely at the year’s end, and those to Ukraine fell by 60 percent.
This year, the brewery expects a significant fall in exports to Russia. Both countries ranked among important trading territories for the state-run brewery. Out of its 70 import trading partners, Russia was one of the TOP 10 and Ukraine one of the TOP 20.
The brewery’s total exports reached the highest volume in history last year, rising by 6 percent to a record figure of 813,000 hectoliters.
The brewery’s exports to its most important markets in Germany and Slovakia saw all-time highs as well. Sales in Germany rose by 10 percent year-on-year, and in Slovakia by 8 percent.
A notable growth in exports was recorded last year, even in the most demanding markets such as Italy, France, Austria, Switzerland and the USA.
In some countries, the volume of exports increased by multiples. In Vietnam for example,it rose four times, in Croatia three times and in Israel, Sweden and Serbia almost two times.