Global beer output nears two billion hl in 2013

GLOBAL beer production rose by 11 million hectoliters in 2013 to push total output to 1,973 billion hl, according to the latest Barth Hop Report (Hops 2013/2014) presented recently in Nuremberg, Germany.

China remains the world’s top beer-producing country, accounting for nearly a quarter of the global output with more than 500 million hectolitres. The U.S. followed with 224 million hl, Brazil (136 million hl) came third, and Germany in fourth place with an output of more than 94 million hl. Russia saw its output decline by more than 9%  and now ranks fifth with 89 million hectoliters.

In 2013, the five largest brewing groups accounted for more than half (51%) of the world beer market. China was not only the world’s biggest beer producer, but also the country with the highest growth in output, with an increase of more than 16 million hectoliters.

Asian brewers dominate the 40 largest brewing groups that together make up 81% of the world beer market. There are seven groups from China led by China Resources Snow Breweries (CRB). Brewers from Japan (4), the Philippines (1), South Korea (2), Thailand for (2), Viet Nam (2) and India (1) round out the list of dominant Asian beer makers.