Soft drinks consumption worldwide is growing by around 5% a year, according to Global Soft Drinks 2002, a new report from leading drinks consultancy Zenith International. Total volume reached 412,000 million litres in 2001, equivalent to 67.5 litres per person. All the information in Zenith's new report is also featured online at www.globaldrinks.com. Both sources provide a wealth of insights into global soft drinks consumption patterns:

• North America is the largest soft drinks market with a 27% volume share in 2001.
• Carbonates are the biggest soft drinks sector with 45% of global volume.
• Bottled water is the highest growth sector, rising by 10% in 2001 and accounting for 53% of total soft drinks growth from 1996 to 2001.
• The five fastest growing countries between 1996 and 2001 were from Asia, East Europe and the Middle East.

"It is important to note the advance of Asia, East Europe and other developing markets", commented Zenith Research Director Gary Roethenbaugh. "Thanks to highly populous and rapidly emerging markets such as China and India, consumption in Asia is projected to overtake that of North America in 2006." Zenith's 2002 Global Soft Drinks Report anticipates that the overall market should hit 523,000 million litres in 2006. A continuing 5% growth rate compares favourably with at best 1% for hot drinks, 2% for milk and 3% for alcohol. "Economic obstacles and climate fluctuations will, of course, present numerous challenges, but the outlook for global soft drinks is as strong today as it has ever been," concluded Gary Roethenbaugh.