Floods, weather render beer flat

Brewers' sales take a heavy hit; and slowdown-related slump deepens

The worst floods in China since 1998 and cooler-than-usual weather are eroding sales at the nation's brewers, deepening a slump caused by the economic slowdown.

China Resources Beer Holdings, the country's largest brewer, said that sales fell 4.6 percent in the three months ended June from a year ago, partly because of "unfavorable weather". Revenue rose 1.8 percent in the first three months this year.