By Rishika Sadam, Nandan Mandayam and Indranil Sarkar HYDERABAD/BENGALURU (Reuters) -Heineken-owned United Breweries on Wednesday stopped supplying beer to Telangana in southern India, following the state's refusal to allow price rises,

Heineken NV’s Indian unit suspended supply of beer to the southern Indian state of Telangana, citing unprofitable prices and missed payments.

United Breweries has suspended beer supply to a state-run corporation in Telangana, halting sales of brands like Heineken and Kingfisher. The move follows ongoing operating losses in the state, despite efforts to increase product prices over two years.

United Breweries said on Wednesday that it has suspended supplying beer to a state-run corporation in the southern Indian state of Telangana, which will halt sales of popular beer brands such as Heineken and Kingfisher in one of the country's top liquor-selling states.

Telangana is India's biggest beer-consuming state, with Kingfisher, including Kingfisher Strong, Kingfisher Ultra, and Kingfisher UltraMax, accounting for around 60 per cent of the total sales. Telangana accounts for around 15-20% of United Breweries’ beer sales and 10%-12% of the company's earnings.

United Breweries, the maker of popular beer brands such as Heineken and Kingfisher, announced on Wednesday that it has halted the supply of its beer to the Telangana Beverages Corporation Limited (TGBCL),

Wednesday's unusual move by India's biggest beer company sparked a fall of 7% in its shares at a time when the industry faces intense scrutiny nationwide

United Breweries Ltd's shares fell over 7% after suspending beer supplies to TGBCL due to financial concerns and unpaid dues. The stock is currently trading 13% below its 52-week high, despite a 23% increase in net profit for Q2 FY25.