HiteJinro begins local production of Kirin Ichiban beer

South Korean brewer HiteJinro has begun producing Japan‘s Kirin Ichiban Shibori beer at its domestic plant, shifting much of its supply from imports to local production as demand for Japanese beer continues to surge.

HiteJinro said Monday that it has started producing canned Kirin Ichiban Shibori beer at its Jeonju plant, marking the first time a South Korean alcoholic beverage company has manufactured a Japanese beer brand domestically.

The company plans to produce 1.5 million liters, equivalent to 3 million 500-milliliter cans, by the end of this year. It aims to manufacture 75 percent of the brand‘s annual sales volume in South Korea next year.

“By producing the beer in Korea, we expect to establish a more stable supply system and deliver fresher Kirin Ichiban Shibori products to consumers,” HiteJinro Chief Executive Officer Jang In-seop said at a recent press briefing at the company‘s integrated research center in Yongin, south of Seoul.

HiteJinro is the first company in Asia without an equity relationship with Kirin to undertake licensed production of the Japanese brewer‘s beer.

While some European and American beer brands are already produced in South Korea, this is the first such arrangement involving a Japanese beer brand. Oriental Brewery, a subsidiary of global brewing giant AB InBev, currently produces brands including Budweiser, Hoegaarden and Stella Artois domestically.

To ensure consistent quality, HiteJinro has adopted Kirin‘s Ichiban Shibori brewing method, which uses only the first wort extracted from malt. The company also cultivates yeast supplied by Kirin in South Korea and follows the Japanese brewer’s standards for brewing temperatures, production times and final product specifications.

Japanese technicians spent more than a year visiting the Jeonju plant to fine-tune the production process. HiteJinro received approval after passing at least three rounds of evaluations conducted by Kirin. Even after production begins, locally brewed products will be shipped to Japan for quality inspections.

Domestic production is expected to shorten the time required to deliver beer to retail outlets from approximately six weeks, including customs clearance, to just one or two weeks.

“With a domestic production system in place, we will be less exposed to international logistics risks, including fluctuations in supply, tariff disputes and natural disasters,” said Kwon Kwang-jo, HiteJinro‘s head of premium regional operations.

The company plans to reinvest savings from transportation and other costs into promotions and marketing.

The move comes as Japanese beer continues to gain market share in South Korea.

According to the Korea Customs Service, Japanese beer accounted for 25.3 percent of South Korea‘s total beer imports by value in 2023, rising to 36.7 percent in 2025 and 42.5 percent in the first nine months of 2026.

South Korea‘s total beer imports rose 5.1 percent year-on-year to $215.8 million in 2025, while imports of Japanese beer jumped 17.4 percent to $79.15 million, significantly outpacing the overall market.

Kirin Ichiban Shibori recorded its highest-ever sales volume in South Korea last year. Its annual sales volume is projected to grow at a compound annual rate of 82.4 percent from 2020 to 2026, with canned products expected to post a 97 percent annual growth rate.