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EU, beer production grows: Germany in the lead

Beer production in Europe grows, with Germany the undisputed leader and Spain in second place

by Davide Madeddu (Il Sole 24 Ore) and Ana Somavilla (El Confidencial, Spain)

14 August 2025

5' min read

People like beer. Whether it is industrially produced or from a microbrewery, it makes no difference. In the European panorama, the liking is represented by a growth in the production of beer with an alcohol content above 0.5 per cent as well as beer with a lower alcohol content.

The Eurostat report on the production and export of beer indicates this trend. "In 2024, EU countries produced 32.7 billion litres of beer containing more than 0.5 per cent alcohol and 2 billion litres of beer with less than 0.5 per cent alcohol or no alcohol content, totalling 34.7 billion litres." Reading the report shows that compared to 2023, the production of beer with more than 0.5 per cent alcohol in the EU increased slightly by 0.6 per cent, while the production of beer with less than 0.5 per cent alcohol increased by 11.1 per cent. As for the list of top producers, in 2024, everything remains as before. That is, in first place is Germany, which continues to lead as the main producer of beer with more than 0.5 per cent alcohol, with 7.2 billion litres (22.2 per cent of total EU production), the same as in 2023. Germany is followed at a distance by Spain, which accounts for 12.3% of total EU production, and Poland at 10.6%. Close behind with single-digit percentages are the Netherlands with 6.8% and Belgium with 6.3%.

In this scenario, the Netherlands is in the lead for beer exports, followed by Germany and Belgium, then the Czech Republic and Ireland.

The Italian case

Then there is the Italian case. Italy, after a decade of growth and the post-pandemic recovery, had to reckon with a downturn in the main market indicators and, above all, with the general increase in prices that affected production with -1.27% and consumption with -1.54%, as well as exports with -7.82% and imports with -4.95%. Despite everything, as pointed out by Assobirra in its 2024 report, the association that since 1907 has brought together the major companies that produce and market beer, malt and hops in Italy, which together cover more than 92% of national beer production, "the sector confirms its solidity, still investing around 100 million euro a year in innovation, sustainability and development".

Assobirra data

According to data from Assobirra, beer production in Italy reached 17.2 million hectolitres in 2024, registering a fairly moderate contraction compared to the 17.4 million hectolitres of 2023 (-1.27%), and remaining just below the pre-pandemic levels of 2019 (17.3 million hectolitres).

Consumption in 2024 stood at 21.5 million hectolitres, a slight drop of 1.54% compared to 2023, a slight contraction that goes hand in hand with the drop in per capita consumption (36.4 litres compared to 37.1 litres in 2023). "Despite the decline from the historical peak in 2022 (22.5 million), 2024 consumption. - reads the report - remain solidly above the pre-Covid threshold of 2019 (21.2 million) and mark a growth of more than 20 per cent compared to ten years ago (17.6 million), a sign of a more structurally sound demand today."

Beer imports decreased by 4.95% year-on-year to 400,000 hectolitres. "Germany remains the main country of origin of imports, with 44.7% of total imports, followed by Belgium (albeit with a declining share, down to 11.6%), Poland (11.4%) and the Netherlands (8.8%)," the report goes on to say. "Among non-EU countries, which now account for 2.7% of total imports, the largest exporter to Italy is the United Kingdom, with about 103,004 hectolitres out of a total of 208,541 hectolitres from third countries.

Exports also show a lower aggregate than in 2023 (3.3 million hl in 2024, - 7.82% compared to 3.6 in the previous year). In the distribution of exports, there is a slight decrease in the share to the United Kingdom (41.5% in 2024 compared to 43.9% in 2023), with a drop in volume of about 205,000 hl. On the other hand, exports to Albania (+27%), the Netherlands (+6.6%), and above all the United States, increased by 12.7%.

The distribution

Among the distribution channels, the recovery of the out-of-home sector continues, which in 2024 records a further increase compared to the previous year in terms of incidence on total consumption (38.5% vs 37.6% in 2023), partly offsetting the drop in domestic consumption in the large-scale distribution channel, which is still falling (61.5% in 2024 vs 62.4% in 2023). Weighing on beer is then the excise knot, which in 2024 exceeded 714 million euro, "up by more than 20 million compared to the previous year, mainly due to the rate increase, considering the drop in consumption".

Sustainability

No less important is the aspect of sustainability, which, as the representatives of Assobirra emphasise, 'is not only environmental and economic, but also social'. "The sector is actively engaged in the promotion of responsible behaviour linked to the consumption of alcoholic beverages, through investments in products with low or no alcohol content and concrete initiatives on the themes of diversity, equity and inclusion," reads the report. "In this context, non-alcoholic and low-alcohol beers represent a dynamic segment, capable of responding to the new needs of consumers oriented towards healthier and more aware lifestyles. In line with the Italian consumption model historically marked by moderation, in 2024 low and no-alcohol beers accounted for 2.11% of total consumption, an increase of 13.4% compared to 1.86% in 2023, marking a constant positive trend from 2020 onwards'.

The national panorama also includes the chapter of small and micro breweries and farm breweries, which, in total, exceed a thousand realities throughout Italy but with a limited production compared to the large brewers.

Spain: European leader in non-alcoholic beer consumption and growing market for craft beers

In the European beer scene, Spain confirms itself as a major player, ranking second in beer production with more than 0.5 per cent alcohol, with 4 billion litres produced in 2024, or 12.3 per cent of total EU production, behind only Germany. But it is above all in the non-alcoholic beer segment that Spain shines: according to the Spanish Brewers Association, together with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and Tourism, Spain will be the leading European consumer of non-alcoholic beer in 2024, with a quarter (25%) of the total consumed in the EU.

The consumption of non-alcoholic beer in Spain has grown by 4%, driven by a transformation in consumer tastes, which are increasingly focused on health and well-being. Today, non-alcoholic beer accounts for 14% of the total consumed in the country, reaching 16% in the domestic channel, where demand is growing from those seeking the taste of beer without sacrificing sobriety. The Spanish industry emphasises that the consumption of non-alcoholic beer is not a gateway to alcohol, but a real alternative, with 90% of buyers also consuming or having consumed traditional beer.

On the craft beer front, Spain has seen a rapid expansion that has surpassed the passing fad phase. According to the Spanish Association of Independent Brewers (AECAI), craft beer production grew almost 80% between 2015 and 2019, from 12.4 to 22.4 million litres. Although the segment represents only 1.1 per cent of the sector's total turnover, it is characterised by a significantly higher price per litre than conventional beer, demonstrating a strong appeal to consumers looking for quality and variety.

The big Spanish brands have responded to these trends with a diversification of the offer: Alhambra offers more than ten variants, ranging from classic to non-alcoholic and IPA; Victoria has expanded the range with dark, wheat, roast and non-alcoholic beers; while Estrella Galicia also offers gluten-free beers, expanding accessibility and variety for consumers.

On the import side, Spain ranks among the leading European importers of alcoholic beer, with almost 600 million litres, tied with Germany and just behind Italy.

*This article is part of the European collaborative journalism project "Pulse".