Beer flows into market ahead of Tet

Vietnam Investment Review (VIR) quoted Le Ngoc Dao, Deputy Director of HCM City's Department of Industry and Trade, as saying that the reported retail shortage over the last few days in HCM City is a ruse – the supply for this Tet had in fact increased by 20-30%.

Owing to this, there should be no shortages. Consumers must be careful when buying beer and not get tricked into paying more than they should, she said.

The Sai Gon Beer Alcohol Beverage Joint Stock Corporation's (Sabeco) yield this Tet has increased by 20% compared with last year. Moreover, the corporation has already distributed the holiday orders to their distributors and retailers.

Guaranteeing sufficient supply for our distributors and not increasing the price has stabilised the market, chairman Phan Dang Tuat told VIR.

The Hanoi Beer Alcohol Beverage Joint Stock Corporation (Habeco) who accounts for 80% of Hanoi's beer market, said that it will supply more than 140 million litres of beer this Tet, a year-on-year rise of 13%.

Director Nguyen Hong Linh said that this will be more than sufficient to meet demand and there will be no case of shortages, he affirmed.

Like Sabeco, Habeco said they do not increase the price of any of their products.

It costs about VND190,000 (US$9) per barrel of Hanoi Beer. The company also ordered their distributors to strictly adhere to the price structures.

A company that supplies famous brand-name beers also confirmed they intend to meet the demand and keep the price stable.

The VIR report attributed the meeting of this extra demand, to the efforts of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT).

In particular, MoIT Deputy Minister Ho Thi Kim Thoa, who since the beginning of November last year, was ensuring companies implement measures to stabilise the market over Tet.

In addition, the companies were required to report their production and sales, she added.