August 5/Business Monitor International Ltd. (BMI) -- Leading Japan-based brewer Kirin has entered Russia's canned beer market after launching its leading Kirin Ichiban brand. The brewer already sells bottled beer in the high potential Russian market, and its canned range will be produced by an as-of-yet unnamed domestic brewer. BMI points out that although Russian consumers favor domestic beer labels, the sheer size of the market (an estimated 12.8 billion liters in beer volume sales in 2008) and its long-term outlook (through 2013, beer volumes are expected to increase by an encouraging 17.6%) should ensure that Russia has the potential to emerge as a useful contributor to Kirin's international business.
Kirin's Russian expansion is the latest move in what has been a busy period internationally in 2009. It is gearing its expansions around the Oceania region and has identified Australia as the spearhead of its diversification strategy. Earlier this year, it acquired the remaining 53.9% stake in Australian brewer Lion Nathan that it did not already own. Away from the Oceania region, among Kirin's most notable moves has been the decision to increase its equity stake in San Miguel Corporation, the parent company of the promising Philippines-based brewer San Miguel Brewery to 48.3%.