In 2021, EU Member States produced 33,1 billion liters of beer with alcohol and almost 1,7 billion liters of beer that contained less than 0,5% alcohol or had no alcohol content at all, according to a Eurostat report.
Compared to 2020, there was a boost in EU production of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beer. Non-alcoholic beer production saw the largest increase, at almost 20%, while alcoholic beer production increased by almost 3%.
In 2021, total EU beer production was equivalent to almost 78 liters per capita.
Largest beer producer
Among the EU Member States with available data, in 2021, as in 2020, Germany was the largest producer with 7,5 billion liters (23% of total EU production). This means that approximately one in four alcoholic beers produced in the EU originated in Germany.
Germany was followed by Poland and Spain, both with 3,7 billion liters produced, or 11% of total EU production, and the Netherlands with 2,5 billion liters, or 7% of total EU production.
The production of these four countries accounts for 52% of the total beer production in the EU.
Portugal, according to the European statistical agency, represents approximately 2,14% of the EU total in 2021, with a production of 710,55 million liters of beer in 2021. In 2020, the country reached a production of approximately 697 million liters of beer.
Leading exporter
Trade data shows that the Netherlands continued to lead as the top exporter of alcoholic beer in 2021, just as in 2020. The Netherlands exported a total (intra and extra EU) of 1,9 billion liters of alcoholic beer in 2021, representing 21% of total EU beer exports.
Regarding imports, France remained the largest importer of alcoholic beer in 2021, with 0,8 billion liters, representing 16% of total EU imports (intra- and extra-EU). Italy and Germany imported almost 0,7 billion liters (13%), followed by the Netherlands (0,6 billion liters; 12%) and Spain (0,5 billion liters; 10%).
