三得利上半年酒类销售额几乎持平 美洲市场拖累营业利润大跌24.6%

Japanese drinks group Suntory reported flat alcohol sales for the first half (H1) of 2026 as its Americas performance suffered.

The 10% gain for Suntory’s canned -196 brand was not enough to lift total alcohol sales

Maker’s Mark producer Suntory posted a 0.2% uptick to ¥653.6 billion (US$4.12bn) in revenue (including liquor tax) for its alcoholic beverages division. However, operating income plunged by 24.6% to ¥53.9bn (US$339.4m).

It followed a similar performance for the 2025 full year, when alcohol sales fell by 0.4% due to a decline for spirits.

Suntory’s total revenue for H1 was up by 7.1% to ¥1,733.2bn (US$10.9bn), while operating income was down by 2.6% to ¥126.3bn (US$796.7 million).

The company – which owns Laphroaig Scotch whisky and Cruzan rum – said its total revenue was led by a “strong performance” for its beverages and food business (up by 13.9%), and domestic alcohol sales in Japan.

Taira Nishikawa, Suntory’s executive officer, division chief operating officer, corporate management and finance division, noted that the business performed strongly in its home market.

Japanese whiskies Kakubin and Torys “outperformed” H1 last year but the group did not detail their exact performance.

Suntory’s ready-to-drink (RTD) brand -196 reported 10% volume growth in Japan for H1.

Outside of Japan, the RTD brand “outperformed the same period of the previous year, supported by continued geographic expansion and proactive marketing activities”.

According to The Brand Champions 2026 report, -196 grew by 13.6% to 34.6m nine-litre cases last year.

Performance in global markets

Looking beyond Japan, the Jim Beam owner also noted that its H1 performance exceeded last year’s first-half in the Asia Pacific region and India. The Indian market was described as a “high-priority” area for future growth.

On the other hand, Suntory continued to face “headwinds” in the Americas, including a “slowdown in consumption and inventory optimisation” by US distributors, which caused a shipment delay to the second half of this year.

The company noted that several of its whisky brands also “outperformed” in terms of year-on-year sales, highlighting its Japanese whiskies Hibiki, Yamazaki and Toki, alongside the Indian-exclusive Oaksmith.

Data from The Brand Champions 2026 report revealed a 44.5% gain for Oaksmith in 2025, with the brand reaching 1.5m cases. Japanese whisky Torys saw growth of 3.6% to 2.5m cases last year, while Kakubin was flat.

The company did not disclose how its spirits arm – known as Suntory Global Spirits – performed during H1.

Suntory reconfirmed its guidance for its 2026 full year. It expects total group revenue to rise by 4.3% and operating income to soar by 26.6%.

In February this year, Suntory revealed plans to combine the operational teams at Islay distilleries Laphroaig and Bowmore, but did not confirm how many jobs were at risk.

A month later, Suntory axed its proposed project to build a £150m (US$191m) maturation facility in East Ayrshire, Scotland.

Last year, Suntory-owned Jim Beam – the world’s biggest American whiskey brand – had a sluggish performance, dropping by 4.6% to 16.7m cases. Suntory’s Canadian Club brand also dipped by 0.2%.

Brand Champions data also showed Suntory’s Hornitos Tequila posted its third year in decline, slipping by 4.5% to 1.7m cases in 2025.

Suntory’s portfolio also includes gin brands Roku, Larios and Sipsmith. Larios saw its volumes fall by 6.3% last year to 1.1m cases.

In May, Suntory opened its new Spirits & Liqueurs Craft Distillery in Osaka to the public, following a ¥6.5bn (US$42.8m) investment.