However, this minor decrease should not be mistaken for a sign of recovery. “Like nearly all sectors, the brewing industry is going through a period of profound transformation,” emphasized Thomas Raiser, Managing Director of BarthHaas. Ongoing geopolitical crises, volatile markets, trade conflicts, and shifting consumer habits are creating significant challenges for brewers. Additionally, the global average masks the fact that many individual markets performed far below expectations.
In Germany, beer production declined by just over one percent in 2024, reaching 83.93 million hectoliters. As a result, Germany fell from fifth to sixth place in the global ranking of beer-producing nations. “This shift is primarily due to Russia increasing its beer production by about nine percent, overtaking Germany,” explained Heinrich Meier, author of the BarthHaas Report. China, the United States, Brazil, and Mexico continue to hold the top four positions.
Europe’s beer market posted a slight increase in 2024, with production rising by 1.1 percent to 514.2 million hectoliters. Within the EU, however, production fell by 1.0 percent to 339.8 million hectoliters, while the rest of Europe grew by a robust 5.6 percent to 174.4 million hectoliters. This growth was largely driven by the UK, where production rose by 5.6 percent to 36.1 million hectoliters.
In the Americas, total beer production declined by 1.3 percent to 617.0 million hectoliters. The decrease was most pronounced in the United States, where output fell by 4.8 percent to 184.5 million hectoliters. Brazil experienced a slight decline of 1 percent to 147.4 million hectoliters, while Mexico recorded a modest increase of 1.8 percent, reaching 145.0 million hectoliters.
Asia posted the steepest regional decline in 2024, with beer output dropping by 2.3 percent to 565.4 million hectoliters. China, responsible for around 60 percent of Asia’s beer production, saw a decrease of five percent to 341 million hectoliters.
Africa registered the highest growth rate of any continent in 2024. Production rose by 6.7 percent to 160.5 million hectoliters. Key contributors included South Africa (+5.4%), Nigeria (+8.0%), Angola (+35%), and Ethiopia (+8.1%).
BarthHaas expects global beer production to remain stable in 2025. However, the brewing industry continues to face difficult conditions. “In addition to existing economic pressures, escalating geopolitical tensions and trade conflicts – particularly those involving the United States – may further dampen consumer sentiment and complicate international trade,” Raiser concluded.
