Tokyo, Aug 4 - Japan's Asahi Breweries Ltd. lowered its domestic beer-category sales outlook for 2006 on Friday and said it now expects sales volume to rise 1.4 percent, against a 3.4 percent year-on-year increase it forecast in January.
The brewer, known for its Super Dry beer, said it aimed for overall beer sales -- including beer, low-malt "happoshu" brews and no-malt beer-like drinks -- in Japan of 196 million cases, down from its previous forecast of 200 million. One case is equivalent of 12.66 litres.