Tsingtao is also popular in the Korean market, along with the Netherlands’ Heineken, America’s Budweiser and Japan’s Asahi. (image: Aurelian Săndulescu (:/flickr)
SEOUL, Sept. 22 (Korea Bizwire) – Chinese beer is becoming popular in the Korean market. According industry officials, leading the way is Tsingtao, a beer that first appeared on Korean shores in 2000.
Tsingtao’s roots trace back to 1903, when a brewery was established in Qingdao, China with German equipment and technology. It became the biggest Chinese beer export in 2011, and is now sold in 80 countries around the world, including Japan, Germany, France and the U.S.
Tsingtao is also popular in the Korean market, along with the Netherlands’ Heineken, America’s Budweiser and Japan’s Asahi.
According to Lotte Mart, sales of Tsingtao from January to August this year ranked third after Heineken and Asahi Super Dry. During the latter half of last year, Tsingtao ranked #1, grabbing 43.8 percent of the imported beer market, and topping sales of Budweiser and Miller.
Thanks to the popularity of Tsingtao, Harbin Beer will also enter the Korean market. OB Beer is planning to launch Harbin before the end of the year.
Harbin Beer is a product that AB InBev, the parent company of OB Beer, is selling in China. Based on sales, it ranks third in China, and 8th in the global market.
Harbin has been produced since 1900, thus having an even longer history than Tsingtao.
By Francine Jung (francine.jung@kobizmedia.co.kr)
