HARVEST This year's grain harvest is not expected to exceed last year's record, but a surplus is still expected, prompting the Agriculture Ministry to advise farmers to sell their crop within the European Union instead of waiting for better prices on the domestic market. Agriculture Minister Petr Zgarba said farmers should export to Italy, Spain and Portugal, which may be facing shortages due to draught.

RUBBER Czech rubber maker Saar Gummi Czech said July 31 it had won a contract worth 150 million Kc ($5.97 million) a year to supply door sealant for Volkswagen's Golf model. The company, which generated sales worth 850 million Kc last year, is expected to hire 40 new employees in October and November.

BEER Budejovicky´ Budvar has won a trademark dispute with Anheuser-Busch in China, at least two local newspapers reported July 30. The two sides have been arguing over trademark rights since 1906. The recent decision by the Chinese government is not final, as Anheuser-Busch still has the right to appeal.

BETTING Phone betting is growing more popular here, with sales reaching tens of millions of crowns a year, Hospodárské noviny reported July 29. Three Czech companies — Erika, Media Games and Ceskomoravská — are licensed to issue bets over the phone in the Czech Republic.

ENGINEERING Electrical engineering has become the country's largest industrial sector, more than doubling in size since 2000, Hospodárské noviny reported July 27. Computer and electrical component production are the largest-growing segments of the electrical engineering sector, followed by telecommunications.

PROFIT Gas distributor Vy´chodoceská plynárenská (VCP) said Aug. 1 it made profits worth 335 million Kc in the first half of the year, a 15 percent drop from last year. VCP, owned by the German company RWE, sold 5,920 gigawatt-hours of gas in the first half, a 2.2 percent decrease on the year. The company expects gross profits to total 400 million Kc this year.