What is it about Viet Nam that its beer industry, amongst others, seems to be unshaken by the global economic downturn? True, local consumption dipped last year, but companies managed to make a profit. Viet Nam, for one, is a nation of beer drinkers just like many of its neighbours. In 2011, consumption amounted to 2.5 billion litres, says Euromonitor International. By 2015, the average beer consumption per capita is expected to reach 45-47 litres. Remarkably, it has surpassed two of the region's top beer consumers, Thailand and the Philippines. At about 91.5 million, the population of Viet Nam is growing steadily at 1% per annum, and projected to reach 100 million by the year 2025. It is also a country with a young demographic, with 31 million between the ages of 20 and 40, and the average age, 28. And with one of the fastest growing economies in Asia, disposable incomes are improving. From 2002 to 2011 the GDP growth was averaging about 7%.
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