Combined shipments of beer and "happoshu," a low-malt liquor, rose 3.7 percent in August compared to a year earlier to 654,050 kiloliters, according to data released Wednesday by the nation's five major brewers.
Shipments of low-priced happoshu were up 42.2 percent from a year before to 185,469 kiloliters, while those of beer fell 6.3 percent to 468,581 kiloliters for the 17th straight month of decline, the brewers said.
The five firms are Asahi Breweries Ltd., Kirin Brewery Co., Sapporo Breweries Ltd., Suntory Ltd. and Orion Breweries Ltd.
Happoshu shipments have posted year-on-year gains since June 1996, they said.
While unfavorable weather in the latter half of the reporting month, particularly in eastern parts of Japan, weighed on beer shipments, new product launches activated the happoshu market, leading the shipments higher despite the prolonged economic slump, the brewers said.
Happoshu controlled about 29 percent of the overall beer and happoshu market during the month, compared with 20.7 percent at the same time last year, they said.
They said they expect shipments of happoshu to grow further in September and October, thanks to their sales campaigns.