Both local and Russian beer can be found in Kazakhstan. Large breweries are owned by international groups Efes Beverage Group (in cities Karaganda and Almaty) and Carlsberg Group (Almaty city) as well as by a private company Shymkentpivo (Shymkent city). In 2008, beer production in Kazakhstan fell by 12% to 3.60 mln hl,[1] whereas the official import grew by 1% to 1.30 mln hl.
In 2008, each third bottle of beer sold in Kazakhstan was delivered from Russia. The main importer is Baltika Breweries of Carlsberg Group, for which Kazakhstan is still the major foreign business.