Emerging beer markets around the world - Central and South America.

Quinn, B.

Abstract
In recent years, a number of Central and South American countries have undergone dramatic expansions in their brewing industries and beer markets. Figures for beer production, consumption, etc., for the whole region and for some individual countries are presented in the form of bar and pie charts. Summaries of recent brewing industry/beer market trends in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Venezuela are presented. One notable trend has been the effect of the lifting of restrictions on international trade in much of South America, which enabled some companies which already dominated the brewing industries of their respective homelands to begin brewing and selling beer in neighbouring countries (for instance, CCU, the leading brewing company in Chile, now also brews in Argentina, while Quilmes from Argentina has similarly entered the beer market in Chile). Some companies, including the two already named, have breweries or distribution agencies in several different countries. Some brewing companies based in Europe or the USA have also taken an interest in the region, employing local brewing companies to distribute their beers, granting licences for the production of their beer brands or entering into joint ventures. The future prospects for the development of the Central and South American beer market, particularly from the viewpoint of the intercontinental investor, are considered by the author to be very positive.
Keywords : beer brewing industry consumption investment market prospect survey