Brewers fear recent growth will be destroyed by high duties and cheap imports

Domestic producers believe that extensive import from other countries after the EU accession will gravely hit them. "Poland is one of the most dynamically developing beer markets in Europe," said Bogna Sikorska, an independent analyst. The sector had almost zł.10 billion in revenues, out of which roughly zł.7 billion was generated by the three largest beer producers. According to Marcin Piróg, CEO of Carlsberg Okocim, the results could be even better if customers were not interested in purchasing the cheaper brands and the euro rate was more favorable. In 2003 there were 90 beer producers in Poland, which produced over 27 million hectoliters employing roughly 15,000 people. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B9) M.M.