TTL Expects to Raise Beer Sales in China by 20 Times to NT$2B. This Year

Taipei, Jan. 26, 2010 (CENS)--State-run Taiwan Tobacco & Liquor Corp. (TTL) is actively exploring the market in China, hoping to enhance the sales value of its beer products there by 20 times to NT$2 billion (US$60.6 million at US$1 = NT$33) this year.

Wei Po-tao, chairman of TTL, indicated that TTL will zero in on China as its major overseas sales outlet this year, particularly for the beer products. To rapidly tap the market there, TTL plans to openly solicit more sales agents there soon.

Besides, the company is going to contract beer manufacturers in China to generate TTL's famous "Taiwan Beer" branded products. In May of 2009 TTL obtained the marketing right of "Taiwan Beer" trademark in China.

So far TTL has sold a total of 560,000 cartons of "Taiwan Beer"-branded beers worth NT$100 million (US$3.03 million) in China in cooperation with Taiwanese enterprises there. This year, Wei predicted, the sales revenue of the company's beer products might surge to NT$2 billion (US$60.6 million) in China.

Meanwhile, TTL posted sales of TTL's tobacco products in China at about NT$800 million (US$24.24 million) in 2009 and sales of white wine at only NT$45 million (US$1.36 million).

To explore more overseas markets, TTL established in 2009 some representative offices in the world's metropolitan cities including New York, Tokyo, and Shanghai. Besides, the company also reinforced the market in Taiwan by setting up 13 stores on the island last year and will establish 12 more this year.