Carlsberg remains 4th biggest beer seller in Vietnam with 8% market share

Carlsberg remained the fourth largest beer seller in Vietnam with 8% of the market share by September 2023, according to Carlsberg’s 2023 performance review.

Last year, Carlsberg recorded a volume growth of 8% in Vietnam, while the overall market declined by nearly 10%, the Danish firm highlighted.

The company attributed the growth to premium brands, especially 1664 Blanc and Tuborg. Those brands benefited from the strengthening of Carlsberg’s route-to-market distribution channel and expanded coverage and number of outlets, enabled by increases in commercial investments.

Carlsberg now holds a strong position in the central region of Vietnam thanks to local mainstream brand Huda, the brewer added.

In Vietnam, Carlsberg will continue its multi-year transformation strategy to accelerate momentum by increasing investments, with a focus on key brands.

Vietnam is one of the largest beer markets in the world with a very strong beer culture among consumers as more than 90% of alcohol consumed is beer, Carlsberg said.

The market posted a good post-Covid recovery in 2022 but came under significant pressure in 2023 because of the country’s economic downturn, the brewer added.

However, Vietnam holds exciting growth opportunities and expanding its business and building a winning portfolio in this market remain an important priority within Carlsberg’s long-term strategy, called Accelerate SAIL.

Overall, in Asia, Carlsberg recorded a sales volume of 50 million hectoliters in 2023, or an organic growth of 3.7% year-on-year. Mainland China and Hong Kong were Carlsberg’s biggest Asian market with 60% of the sales volume, while Vietnam and India accounted for 17%.

The performance resulted in an operating profit of DKK5.2 billion ($750.6 million) on a revenue of DKK23.3 billion ($3.36 billion), up 7.9% and 8.4% year-on-year, respectively.