Croatian beer industry sees 26% rise in profit

ZAGREB, Aug 9 (Hina) – Beer producers in Croatia earned HRK 2.47 billion in revenue in 2018, with their consolidated profit totalling HRK 344.9 million, 26% up from 2017, the Financial Agency (FINA) has reported.

In a report based on annual financial reports and published on the occasion of International Beer Day, which this year is marked on August 5, FINA says that in 2018, 88 businesses were active in the beer industry, of whom 41 operated at a profit.

The beer industry employed 1,622 workers, 5.1% more than in 2017.

The average monthly net salary in the sector was HRK 9,824, 3% more than in 2017, and it was 75.9% higher than the average monthly net salary in the business sector of HRK 5,584.

Last year’s exports of the beer industry totalled HRK 312.6 million, an increase of 6.3% from 2017, while imports rose 6.4% to 394.5 million.

Among the 88 beer producers the highest total revenue, in the amount of HRK 1.1 billion, was earned by the Zagrebacka Pivovara brewery, which was also the biggest exporter.

In 2018 the company had 560 employees whose average net salary was HRK 12,728.

The brewery earned a profit in the amount of HRK 233.2 million as against HRK 213.8 million in 2017.

Zagrebacka Pivovara is followed by Heineken Hrvatska, with revenues amounting to HRK 723.4 million. Its profit totalled HRK 105.9 million, it employed 321 workers and their average net monthly salary was HRK 13,310.

FINA also notes that in recent years Croatia has been experiencing a growing trend of craft beer making.

(EUR 1 = HRK 7.4)