Beer consumption in Belgium, as well as exports of Belgian beer, declined again last year compared to 2023, according to figures released on Thursday by the Belgian Brewers’ Federation.
However, the federation noted that the drop was less severe than the previous year. The decline is attributed to "persistently pressured purchasing power, reduced competitiveness, high costs, and an unstable geopolitical context."
In Belgium, the hospitality sector saw a sharper decline of 2.9% compared to a 1.5% decrease in retail distribution. Over the past decade, beer consumption in the country has fallen by nearly 20%, reaching 6.4 million hectolitres last year.
Exports remain more than double domestic consumption, amounting to 14.5 million hectolitres. Like the previous year, exports outside the European Union suffered, with volumes dropping by 8%, although such distant markets account for just over 15% of total exports.
Within the EU, Spain and Italy purchased significantly fewer Belgian beers, each recording a 15% decrease. Outside the EU, exports to the United States increased by 10%, following a substantial decline in recent years. It remains to be seen whether Belgian brewers will face challenges from shifts in U.S. trade policy.
The federation urges the government to ensure that "the debate around alcohol and health does not further shift towards extreme positions."
They highlight that Belgium now offers over one hundred non-alcoholic beers out of a total of 1,600 beers, which is the only category showing growth. Recent figures from research firm YouGov show that 8.8% of beer volumes purchased are non-alcoholic.
