Eurostat: 34.3 Billion Liters of Beer Produced in the EU in 2023

Photo source: Eurostat

In 2023, European Union countries produced 32.5 billion (bn) liters of beer containing alcohol and 1.8 bn liters of beer with less than 0.5 percent alcohol or with no alcohol content at all, totaling 34.3 bn liters, according to a new report by Eurostat.

Compared with 2022, the production of beer with alcohol in the EU decreased by 5 percent (-1.7 bn). When it comes to beer without alcohol, there was an increase of 13.5 percent compared with 2022 (+0.2 bn).

Concerning the production of beer with alcohol, in 2023, Germany continued to be the top producer with 7.2 bn liters (22.3 percent of the total EU production).

Germany was followed by Spain, with 4.0 bn produced (12.4 percent of total EU production), Poland with 3.5 bn (10.8 percent), the Netherlands with 2.4 bn (7.5 percent) and Belgium with 2.0 bn (6.3 percent).

Netherlands top exporter and France top importer

As in previous years, trade data show that the Netherlands continued to lead as the top exporter of beer containing alcohol in 2023. The Netherlands exported a total (intra- and extra-EU) of 1.8 bn liters of beer containing alcohol in 2023, accounting for 21.5 percent of the total EU countries’ beer exports. Compared with 2022, this EU country saw a decrease of 0.1 bn liters in beer exports.

The Netherlands was followed by Germany and Belgium (both exporting 1.4 bn liters), Czech Republic and Ireland (both 0.5 bn liters).

For imports, France continued to be the largest importer of beer containing alcohol in 2023, with 0.9 bn liters, representing 17.1 percent of EU total (intra- and extra-EU) imports. The other big importers were Italy with more than 0.7 bn liters, and Spain, the Netherlands and Germany each with almost 0.6 bn liters.

UK was the biggest exporter to and importer from EU

When it comes to main destinations for beer (with alcohol) exports to non-EU countries, the United Kingdom (0.8 bn liters; 22.8 percent of total extra-EU beer exports) and the United States (0.6 bn; 16.1 percent) were the main partners, followed by Russia (0.3 bn; 8.4 percent), China (0.3 bn; 7.3 percent), and Cuba (0.2 bn; 5.2 percent).

Imports of beers containing alcohol from countries outside the EU are marginal compared to imports within the EU. When importing from non-EU countries, EU countries favored British beer (0.3 bn; 57.6 percent of all extra-EU imports of beer in 2023 and Mexican beer (0.1 bn; 17.2 percent).