UK beer exports to Asia 1971 - 1980

You're going to have to put up with a few of these number-heavy posts. I'm off with the kids to the UK and I need to queue up some posts while I'm away. When you read this, I should be in Leeds.

Next, let’s turn to Asia, which had once been one of the UK’s most valuable markets. It doesn’t even appear in the table, because the amounts were too small. In 1969 just 921 barrels were exported to India and Pakistan combined.  A far cry from the 19th century, when some years more than 200,000 barrels were sent to the Indian subcontinent.

By far the most important Asian destination was Hong Kong, taking around a third of Asian exports. No shock, really, as it was full of thirsty expats at the time.

A surprising amount of beer was being sent to the Middle East. By the end of the 1970s, around two-thirds of all UK exports to Asia. Biggest surprise is seeing Saudi Arabia on the list. I can only assume that it consisted of alcohol-free beer.

UK beer exports to Asia 1971 - 1975
Country of Destination	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975
Abu Dhabi	960	585	639	618	1,604
Bahrain	3,386	1,718	2,127	2,970	3,812
Dubai	1,214	870	1,390	1,447	3,127
Oman	561	1,060	1,418	1,853	2,560
Qatar	422	225	686	816	1,553
Saudi Arabia	6,839	248	—	—	308
Hong Kong	11,014	8,541	9,042	11,133	9,337
Indonesia	1,110	3,836	10,626	1,002	707
Iran	75	115	63	131	30
Israel	717	1,455	2,000	3,013	1,617
Japan	1,441	1,341	2,005	2,066	2,484
Malaysia & Singapore	8,090	4,394	4,680	1,872	1,631
Total Asia	35,829	24,388	34,676	26,921	28,770
Source:
“The Brewers' Society Statistical Handbook 1980” page 14.

 

UK beer exports to Asia 1976 - 1980
Country of Destination	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980
Abu Dhabi	2,085	704	1,690	1,743	1,426
Bahrain	3,357	3,060	3,327	2,938	2,216
Dubai	3,186	3,074	5,972	6,373	7,265
Oman	1,796	2,972	2,916	2,331	1,830
Qatar	2,489	1,915	1,530	409	48
Saudi Arabia	10	18	17	—	62
Hong Kong	11,611	11,372	12,214	12,815	9,704
Indonesia	—	54	7	—	-
Iran	95	2,338	22,650	188	-
Israel	3,241	1,968	1,832	678	75
Japan	3,068	6,414	6,981	3,795	2,978
Malaysia & Singapore	1,454	1,960	1,138	715	8,754
Total Asia	32,392	35,849	60,274	31,985	34,358
Source:
“The Brewers' Society Statistical Handbook 1980” page 14.