Budvar beer exports reach record high in 2014

PRAGUE — Czech state-owned brewery Budejovicky Budvar, which has been fighting a long legal battle with U.S. beer giant Anheuser-Busch over the use of the “Budweiser” brand, says its overall output and exports reached record highs in 2014.

Budejovicky Budvar NP says exports rose by 6 percent to reach 21.48 million gallons of beer, the best result in 119 years.

Budvar exported to 70 countries last year, five more than the previous year. Overall output reached 1.457 million hectoliters, up 2.5 percent from 2013.

Profit figures from the brewery are due in April.

Both Budvar and Anheuser-Busch — which was taken over by Belgian brewer InBev in 2008 to form AB InBev — claim exclusive right to the Budweiser name.