Alcohol, Baltic Export, China, Latvia, Markets and Companies

He said Aldaris started exporting its products to China last year. For now Aldaris is selling in China its Mezpils beer.

It takes time to start doing business with China, he said. If a company has chosen a strategy to launch exports to China, the whole process may take at least two years therefore choosing China as one's only export market is risky.

For now Aldaris has two cooperation partners in China and is selling its beer mostly to the HoReca segment and high-end shops in China. The export amounts are not large but the Chinese market has a huge potential, Ilzins said.

In 2015, Aldaris operated with EUR 26.244 mln in turnover and EUR 2.614 mln in losses. The company has not yet made public its financial results for 2016.

Back in 2013 Aldaris decided to focus on premium class and craft beer production, and production of cheaper or PET beers was moved to other Carlsberg group breweries in Lithuania and Estonia.

Aldaris is a part of Danish Carlsberg group, one of the world's largest beer makers. Carlsberg controls Baltic Beverages Holding that runs 19 breweries in seven Eastern European countries.