DR selling lots of its Brugal rum

Santo Domingo._ Listin Diaro reports that Brugal sales last year were 3.4 million boxes, up 8% over the previous year. Brugal has an unprecedented 80% of the domestic rum market.

Franklin Baez Brugal, spokesman for the company, said that the company will export some 340,000 boxes of rum in 2002, or approximately 10% of their production. He explained their main

markets are in Spain and Italy.

They also export to the United States, Puerto Rico, all the Caribbean islands, Switzerland and

Finland. Exports will begin this year to Russia, Germany and Peru.

"Right now Caribbean rum is fashionable and especially the premium rums, rum market grew 3% last year. He said Brugal rum is ranked 17th in the world.