A billboard advertising Budweiser beer in Shanghai. China consumes about 40 billion liters of beer annually, accounting for nearly one-quarter of the global beer consumption. [Photo / Provided to China Daily]

ZIYANG, Sichuan - Anheuser-Busch InBev NV (AB InBev), the world's largest brewer by sales, will dramatically increase its investment levels in China this year, in a bid to expand its footprint in the country, according to the company's top executive.

"In 2010, AB InBev recorded impressive growth in China, the largest and fastest-growing beer market in the world. Thus we plan to invest several hundred million dollars this year," said Carlos Brito, chief executive officer of the Belgium-based company.

China, along with the United States and Brazil, are three top-priority markets that will drive the volume growth of the global industry for the foreseeable future, said Brito.

Yang Qingchun, director of the public relations department at the Shenzhen-based market research company Societ Insights and Decision Co Ltd, said the Chinese now consume approximately 30 liters each every year.

Currently, the country consumes some 40 billion liters of beer annually, accounting for nearly one-quarter of global consumption, according to industry experts.

On Thursday, AB InBev launched its first brewery in southwest China to tap into the fast-growing potential of the region.

"With an investment of 650 million yuan ($100 million), the new brewery, located in Ziyang, Sichuan province, aims to better serve the 200 million consumers in the southwestern region," said Miguel Patricio, president of AB InBev Asia Pacific.