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Budweiser maker Anheuser-Busch InBev says tariff impact remains 'very limited'

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Anheuser-Busch InBev (BUD) CFO Fernando Tennenbaum said the beer maker isn't worried about President Trump's tariffs disrupting its business.

"Most of our beer is sourced, brewed, and consumed locally, so any exposure to tariff is very limited," Tennenbaum told Yahoo Finance over the phone. Tennenbaum stated that 99% of what AB InBev sells in the US is made domestically.

"We source the vast majority of our ingredients and other raw materials also in the US," Tennenbaum added.

The Trump administration recently levied 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, which could raise prices for aluminum cans, and an additional 10% tariff on all Chinese goods. The president also announced a 25% tariff on Mexico and Canada that is currently on hold and put like-for-like tariffs on other countries on the table.

Anheuser-Busch InBev's message diverges from other beer makers who face tariff exposure. Constellation Brands (STZ), in particular, will need to keep a close watch on Mexico tariffs, as it has two breweries in the country that ship its Corona and Modelo beers to the US.

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"We have a number of what ifs," Constellation Brands CEO Bill Newlands said on a call with investors following its latest earnings results. "It's really too early to hypothesize about what might or might not happen. As you would expect, we have a lot of permutations that we have considered and, certainly, we'll adjust our approach depending on ... what plays out as we go forward."

Molson Coors (TAP) and AB InBev appear better positioned for tariffs, Bank of America analyst Bryan Spillane told Yahoo Finance over the phone ahead of the Super Bowl earlier this month.

Read more: What are tariffs, and how do they affect you?

"As we head into the summer ... the [year-over-year] comparisons are easy," Spillane said. "We don't know what's going to happen with tariffs ... will Mexican beer prices have to go up? If they do, that's probably going to be good for both Molson Coors and Bud."

England soccer fans make a tower of Budweiser beer cans during a match on Dec. 10, 2022. (Reuters/Craig Brough)
Soccer fans in Manchester, UK, make a tower of Budweiser beer cans during a match on Dec. 10, 2022. (Reuters/Craig Brough) · Action Images via Reuters / Reuters

The potential trade impacts come as AB InBev is starting to see momentum in the US, which Tennenbaum called an "inflection point." AB InBev's stock jumped nearly 8% in afternoon trading Wednesday following its quarterly results.

In the US market, AB InBev's Michelob Ultra and Busch Light brands saw the first- and second-largest volume share gain in the market, he said.

Tennenbaum also pointed to a 0.5% increase among sales to retailers in the fourth quarter, which is the volume of products sold to stores, restaurants, and bars, versus a 12% decrease in the same time period a year ago. US revenue increased 0.8% for the quarter.