Japan’s four major beer companies released their mid-year financial results for June 2025, and all of them saw lower profits. The main reasons were the strong yen causing exchange rate losses and rising aluminum tariffs in the US, which are expected to increase costs for canned products.

Key Company Highlights:

• Sapporo Holdings:
  • Revenue fell 1.2% to ¥244.6 billion
  • Net profit dropped sharply by 70.6% to ¥1.7 billion
  • Domestic sales were strong, but US sales were weak due to economic uncertainty
  • The company expects about ¥700 million in extra costs because of higher aluminum tariffs in North America
• Suntory Holdings:
  • Revenue dropped 1.9% to ¥1.6176 trillion
  • Net profit fell 35.7% to ¥59.6 billion
  • The decline was due to losses from selling overseas subsidiaries and poor performance in spirits (like whiskey) in the US and Europe
  • The company also expects higher costs for canned drinks in the US
• Kirin Holdings:
  • Revenue rose 3.7% to a record-high ¥1.1363 trillion
  • However, net profit still fell 7.7% to ¥52.8 billion

Overall, despite strong domestic sales for some companies, overseas challenges and rising costs are putting pressure on profits.