Imports Grow Before Corona Price Increase

December imports were up a big 7.7% in December, according to the Beer Institute. That's a good finish to a lousy year, but it was mostly due to Mexican imports being up 30.5% as distributors and retailers stock up ahead of the Corona price increase.Interestingly, the Netherlands were down -1.8% as Heineken fights off the big Corona buy-in. That puts import shipments up only 1.9% in 2003, not a great showing for the segment. Will imports rebound in 2004? It