Alcohol-free beer rising in EU: Will it surpass traditional beer?

Alcohol-free and low-alcohol beer production has surged in the EU, experiencing a remarkable 13% increase from 2022 to 2023. Meanwhile, the production of traditional alcoholic brews has seen a notable decline. What is the current gap between these two types of beer production?

Despite the rise in low-alcohol (less than 0.5% alcohol content) and alcohol-free beer, traditional beer still dominates the market. In 2023, approximately 95% of beer production in the EU consisted of traditional brews, amounting to over 32 billion liters. In contrast, only 1.8 billion liters of low-alcohol or alcohol-free beer were produced.

However, the latest numbers from Eurostat indicate that non-traditional beer is rapidly closing the gap. From 2022 to 2023, production of non-traditional beer increased by more than 13%, while the volume of traditional beer declined by 5%.

Leading Beer Producers in the EU

When it comes to beer production, Germany is a clear frontrunner. It not only leads in traditional beer production, accounting for 22% of the EU’s total output, but also ranks first in the low-alcohol and alcohol-free beer category, contributing approximately 30% (556 million liters). Following Germany, Spain holds the second place at 12% and accounts for 14% (253 million liters) of the alcohol-free market. Other notable countries include the Netherlands (202 million liters), France (161 million liters), the Czech Republic (117 million liters), and Romania (85 million liters).

Impact of Brexit on Beer Exports

In terms of beer exports, the Netherlands stands out as the top seller of traditional beer, representing 21.5% of the EU’s sales outside the bloc. Interestingly, despite Brexit, the UK remains the primary destination for EU beer, accounting for 23% of total exports. The US occupies the second position at 16.1%, followed by Russia (8.4%), China (7.3%), and Cuba (5.2%).

On the flip side, British beer leads imports into the EU, making up 57.6% of the total, with Mexican beer following at 17.2%. Additionally, France is recognized as the largest importer of alcoholic beer in the EU, holding a share of 17.1%.