Imports, Domestics Down in August

The Beer Institute estimates that domestic taxpaid removals were down in August 1.7%, slightly down more than we anticipated. Meanwhile, the Institute also reports that August imports were down 3.5%, much more than anticipated. Mexican imports were up 0.3%, or about 32k cases. However, the Netherlands, mostly Heineken and Amstel Light, were down 13.8%, or about 1,047,600 case equivs. That's a lot of beer. Heineken was up against tough comparison numbers last year.Japan was also hit, down 84%, leading us