Brewing giant SABMiller is braced for a third straight year of falling sales in Russia after scorching summer weather failed to make up for a hefty state excise hike, its country head told Reuters. "We are looking a a lower (single) digit decline for the year 2010," Russia MD Grant Harries said at the opening of a new brewery in Ulyanovsk, near Moscow. "The quarter to end-Sept was a lot more positive as a result of the weather conditions, the whole industry enjoyed an exceptional summer. But this was a result of extreme weather conditions, not a change of disposable income," he said. the company's Russian sales had already taken a 10% battering in 2008 and 2009 as the global economic slowdown persuaded drinkers away from its priced brands. Harries said the 200% January excise hike had led to company forecasts for a 10-15% decline as brewers passed costs to drinkers, but the weather, combined with factors such as higher employment improve the dismal outlook.
