EU beer production in 2023 shows a mixed pattern across regions
Recent statistics from Eurostat indicate that beer production across European Union member states declined by five percent in 2023, settling at 34.3 billion liters. This headline reflects a shift in output that underlines evolving market dynamics, consumer preferences, and industry adjustments across the bloc.
In the same period, alcoholic beer production fell by five percent year over year to 32.5 billion liters, while non-alcoholic beer continued to grow, rising by 13.5 percent to 1.8 billion liters. The divergence between traditional alcoholic products and the rising demand for non-alcoholic options points to a broader trend in beverage choices within the EU, as reported by Eurostat.
Germany again led beer production in 2023, delivering about 7.2 billion liters or roughly 22.3 percent of the EU total. This level of output reinforces Germany’s prominent role in European brewing in terms of scale, capacity utilization, and export reach, supported by data from Eurostat.
Following Germany, Spain and Poland contributed substantial volumes to the regional total, recording around 4 billion liters and 3.5 billion liters respectively. These figures illustrate the geographic spread of production across southern and central Europe, highlighting ongoing investments in brewing facilities and regional supply chains as noted by Eurostat.
Completing the top tier, the Netherlands and Belgium also featured as significant producers with outputs around 2.4 million liters and 2 billion liters, illustrating a broader, pan-European map of brewing strength that influences competitive dynamics within the European market, according to Eurostat data.
In Russia, there was an observed uptick in beer sales during the first half of the year, with consumption rising by 4.8 percent. This increase in demand reflects ongoing consumer interest in beer products in the region and may be influenced by shifts in disposable income, distribution, and marketing activity, as reported by regional market trackers.
Meanwhile, in a separate policy debate within the Russian Parliament, there were discussions about restricting alcohol sales by considering weekend market bans. The conversations signal regulatory scrutiny that could affect retail dynamics, availability, and pricing in the alcohol sector, as reported by policy observers on the matter.