Kirin Brewery Co. will announce shipments of beer and "happoshu" low-malt beer-like beverages twice a year instead of each month as at present, starting with January data due for release later this week, company officials said Monday.
The practice of releasing monthly data, currently shared by all four major Japanese brewers, has put wholesalers under pressure as brewers tend to ship large volumes at the end of each month to boost figures, industry officials said.
Analysts complain that this practice results in shipment data that do not accurately reflect market trends.
Among the other major brewers, Sapporo Breweries Ltd. intends to follow Kirin's lead while Suntory Ltd. is considering releasing quarterly figures, company officials said. Asahi Breweries Ltd. will continue releasing monthly data, company officials said.
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