Gremi d’Elaboradores de Cervesa Artesana and Natural de Catalunya, known by PASSING, spent their days immersed in the realities of the craft beer scene. This association, which represents nearly 50 boutique brewers and sales points across Catalonia, communicates a view that growth in the sector should align with a path to recovery from the post-pandemic era. The pandemic left scars on many businesses, with several firms closing their doors since the crisis began. Spanish partners recently reported that in 2022, 35% of the craft beer manufacturers that were operating in 2019 had to shut down, a sobering statistic that frames the current climate for small and independent brewers.
Recent research conducted by business analytics firm Informa Publishing, released last week, presents a nuanced picture. The craft beer segment registered a 17% increase in production in 2022 compared with 2021, and revenues rose by about 24%, a boost that can be partly attributed to inflation and a broader rise in consumption. Yet this improvement in output has not translated into a healthier financial position for many players within the industry. Escalating costs—especially in energy, logistics, packaging, and raw materials—have weighed heavily on margins. As a result, production growth has not consistently delivered the desired relief for companies that continue to grapple with high operating expenses. The data shows that in April of the current year, there were 476 registered craft brewers operating in Spain, compared with 520 before the Covid-19 disruption, signaling ongoing volatility in the sector.
Gremi d’Elaboradores has repeatedly stressed to EL PERIÓDICO, part of the Prensa Ibérica group, that the current situation remains fragile and does not reflect a sustained recovery. They point out that despite 2022 turnover approaching 72 million euros according to the Informa Sectoral Observatory, the figure does not restore the sector to its 2019 levels. While 2022 shows a rise relative to 2021, the association argues that it is misleading to claim a genuine upturn. Victor Cerdan, the organization’s manager, states that the craft beer sector in Catalonia is facing moments of deep crisis and requires administrative support to overcome the present challenges. This perspective highlights the delicate balance between growth indicators and the broader struggles of small producers that rely on stable conditions to expand and invest.
In a coordinated statement from PASSING along with ACAIB, AECAI, VALENCIAN BEER, and AEGEAN, the sector warned that it faces a set of risks likely to disproportionately affect craft brewers. The combination of commodity hyperinflation and ongoing energy pressures linked to the broader geopolitical climate, including the situation surrounding Ukraine, has raised production costs by a notable margin. Industry representatives emphasize that the general rise in costs, which experts estimate to be around sixty percent on average, is not easily passed along to consumers due to competition with large industrial brewers. This imbalance helps explain why many small operators have seen a reduction in gross margins by more than thirty percent, underscoring the combat-like environment in which independent craft brewers must operate to stay viable.