China's beer production up

China’s beer production rose 15.2% in 2004 over the previous year to 29.1 million tonnes in 2004, maintaining the country’s ranking as the world’s biggest beer producer, state media has reported.

The country’s top-ten breweries accounted for 55% of total annual output, the state-run newspaper People’s Daily reported, citing a source from the China Beer Industry Association.

China has more than 400 breweries and more than 2,000 companies linked to the brewing industry across the country, the report said.