South Korea | Japan reclaimed the top spot in South Korea’s beer imports in 2023, five years after the start of the Tokyo-Seoul trade dispute, local media reported in January.

India | Consumers in India could enjoy a 7.5 percent reduction in spirits prices should the region’s 150 percent tariff laws be halved, Diageo said on 30 January upon releasing its first half 2024 figures.

Australia | A skyrocketing excise tax, debt from the pandemic period, increased production costs, and depressed consumer demand have created a perfect storm for the country’s 600 or so independent craft brewers.

South Korea | GoldenBlue, a whiskey maker and distributor of imported liquors, said it has disposed of its remaining inventory of Carlsberg beer, in the aftermath of a so-called gapjil (abuse of power) with its Danish partner. The discarded beer is said to be worth nearly USD 380,000.

South Korea | Diageo, the world’s leading drinks company, must be running out of unique marketing ideas. Like SABMiller before, it is going for pop-up venues to push its brands into select markets.

New Zealand | Deep Creek ran into financial difficulty after a physical problem with some cans shipped to China caused a product recall, which left a big hole in its accounts. The craft brewer was forced to file for liquidation at the end of October.

Australia | Australia’s family-owned Coopers Brewery credited the recovery of draught beer sales, as well as higher malted barley sales, for boosting its financial year results.

Australia | The free trade deal between the European Union and Australia, which has been in the making since 2018, will not happen any time soon. The latest attempt to wrap things up fell apart in dramatic fashion on 30 October, after the Australians made last minute demands which the EU could not accept.

Australia | Just about all craft breweries will be struggling to pay their excise debts, incurred during the covid pandemic, when the Australian Tax Office (ATO) allowed a deferment of excise and other payments.

China | It was not without glee that the South China Morning Post newspaper reported on 2 October that Great Leap, one of Beijing’s first craft breweries, founded in 2010 to serve the expatriate community, has added Chinese dishes to its menu. The reason: Expats have left the city in droves.