Worldwide production of beer totaled some 154.75 million kiloliters in 2004, up 4.4 percent over the previous year for the 20th consecutive yearly rise, with China retaining its position as the biggest brewing nation for the third year in a row, Kirin Brewery Co. said Monday.
Production increased in all regions due to a pickup in economic activity and last summer's heat, enabling global output to score the steepest percentage rise on record, the major beer brewer said. Data have been compiled since 1975.
Gathering production information from brewers associations, Kirin found that China produced 28.75 million kiloliters last year, up 12.9 percent, followed by the United States with 23.33 million kiloliters, up 0.9 percent.
Others in the top 10 remained unchanged from the previous year. Germany came in third, posting an output gain of 0.8 percent to 10.62 million kiloliters, while Russia ranked fifth as it boosted production by 12.0 percent to 8.42 million kiloliters.
Japan was the seventh-largest producer, with 6.60 million kiloliters, up 1.0 percent and the first rise since 2001.
By region, Asia, including Japan, recorded the biggest output, at 43.27 million kiloliters.