GUIYANG -- Moutai, China's national liquor served at official occasions and state banquets, saw its output reach 24,000 tons in the first half of 2012, up 15.3 percent year-on-year.

The total liquor output of the Kweichow Moutai Group stood at 42,000 tons, as the group also produces other kinds of spirits, Yuan Renguo, group chairman, said on Monday in the southwestern province of Guizhou, where the distillery is located.

The group's pre-tax sales revenue reached 17.8 billion yuan ($2.8 billion) in the first six months, up 38 percent from a year ago, according to Yuan.

Moutai, distilled in the town of Moutai in Guizhou, has been considered the country's top liquor brand as well as a status symbol for decades. The small town is believed to possess a unique climate and vegetation that contributes to the taste of the drink.

Yuan said that output of the Moutai liquor is scheduled to top 33,000 tons for the whole year and the group's goal for this year's sales revenue is set at 35 billion yuan.

The chairman added the company has increased efforts to promote online sales.

Meanwhile, a new project, which will raise the Moutai liquor's annual capacity by 2,500 tons, is expected to start operation next month.