• Asahi Group's production is paralyzed due to a major cyberattack.
• Retailers including 7-Eleven and FamilyMart warn of imminent shortages.
• Supermarkets may run out of Asahi Super Dry beer within days.
• An apology was issued by Asahi's president for the disruption.
• Approximately 6.7 million large bottles of beer are produced daily in Japan.

Japan is currently experiencing a severe shortage of Asahi products, including the popular Asahi Super Dry beer, following a major cyberattack that has severely impacted the company’s operations. Almost all of Asahi Group’s factories have been idle since Monday due to a ransomware attack that hobbled their ordering and delivery systems. Retailers like FamilyMart and Lawson have warned customers that they should expect shortages, which may include other products like bottled teas and soft drinks produced by Asahi Group, according to SCMP, BBC, and India Times.

Asahi has suspended all orders and shipments while it works to restore its system, yet there is currently no clear timeline for recovery. Some major retailers estimate that shelves could be empty in as little as two to three days, potentially leading customers to turn to rival brands such as Suntory or Kirin. The company's situation is compounded by its significant market share in Japan, where it commands a loyal customer base for its products, as highlighted by BBC and India Times.

Asahi, which produces around 6.7 million large bottles of beer daily, is also facing disruptions in manufacturing baby food and store brand products for Japanese retailers due to its crippled operations. The company has even postponed the launch of eight new products while it addresses the consequences of the attack. Asahi has confirmed traces of unauthorized data transfer but insists that no customer information has been compromised, as noted by SCMP, BBC, and India Times.