Kweichow Moutai Leapfrogs Johnnie Walker Producer Diageo to Become Most Valuable Liquor Maker

(Yicai Global) April 11 — China’s Kweichow Moutai Co. [SHA:600519] has surpassed Johnnie Walker producer Diageo Plc. [NYSE:DEO] to become the highest valued liquor maker in the world.

Kweichow Moutai’s share price rose 55 percent in the past year, more than twice the gain Diageo saw, Bloomberg reported on April 10. The Maotai-based company’s market value hit USD71.5 billion last Friday. A third of Diageo’s revenue came from North America and a quarter came from Europe during the fiscal year ending in June, while 95 percent of Kweichow Moutai’s revenue came from the domestic market.

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