OREANDA-NEWS. On 21 July 2008 was announced, that on 17 — 28 July 2008, the city of Dalian, China hosts one of the largest beer events in the world — the Dalian Beer Festival. Baltika, the only company making deliveries of beer from Russia to China, represents the Russian brewing industry at the Festival.

The Dalian Beer Festival is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and in keeping with traditions it will take place on Sinhai Square. A total of more than 300 beer brands from around the world take part in this event.

In the Baltika Breweries pavilion, which is situated in a space covering more than 1,200 sq.m., Festival guests are offered draught Baltika №7 Export and Baltika №8 Wheat beer varieties, as well as the entire assortment of Baltika packaged beer which is currently being exported to China. In Baltika’s own entertainment area, the Dalian Folk Chorus of Russian Songs, which is well known in China, perform with typical Russian gusto and contemporary Chinese performers appear as well. The programme also includes performances by dance groups, competitions and drawings with prizes provided by Baltika. The well-known Dalian showman Tsin Loon is the MC of the event.

Baltika Breweries is a traditional participant in the Chinese Beer Festival. The Company’s products enjoy invariable demand among beer lovers in China. Last year more than 1,500 litres of Baltika beer were consumed already on the first day of the Festival.

Baltika became the first Russian brewer to ship beer to China back in 2004 and today it remains the only exporter of the frothy beverage from Russia to the PRC. The name of the Baltika brand is pronounced "Bolodihai Tsitsyu" in Chinese, meaning "Baltic Sea Beer." Russian beer is primarily sold in restaurants and bars in China. The price of Baltika beer varies between 13 and 35 yuan (1.3 — 3.5 Euros) for 0.5 litres. The main volumes of sales are in Beijing and the provinces of Shandung, Shensi, Hailuntsian and Hainan. Among Chinese beer lovers, Baltika №7 Export Beer enjoys special popularity and accounts for more than 42% of sales.

China is the largest beer market in the world. At the end of 2007, the market volume amounted to 380 million hectolitres (Data from Euromonitor 2007). Beer consumption per capita exceeds 25 litres per annum and each year there is a positive growth trend.

Baltika Breweries has been implementing a policy of actively promoting its products in the Asia-Pacific Region. The first exports were made to the Region in 2001 and now Baltika regularly exports beer to South Korea, Mongolia, China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and other countries of the region. During 2007, the Company exported more than three million litres of Baltika beer to countries of the Asia-Pacific Region.