Which Country Imports the Most Beer in the World?

Global beer imports stood at 15M tonnes in 2016, coming up by 3% against the previous year level. The total import volume increased at an average annual rate of +3.5% from 2007 to 2016; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations in certain years. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2008, when import increased by 14% from the previous year level. Global beer import peaked in 2016, and are likely to continue its growth in the immediate term.

In value terms, beer imports stood at $14B in 2016. The total import value increased at an average annual rate of +3.5% over the period from 2007 to 2016; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations throughout the analyzed period. Global beer import peaked in 2016, and are expected to retain its growth in the near future.

Top Beer Importing Countries in the World

1. USA (5,078.9 million USD)

2. United Kingdom (721.0 million USD)

3. France (704.4 million USD)

4. China (665.7 million USD)

5. Italy (594.4 million USD)

6. Canada (571.0 million USD)

7. Germany (516.3 million USD)

8. Netherlands (378.2 million USD)

9. Australia (325.4 million USD)

10. Spain (294.3 million USD)

11. Belgium (210.6 million USD)

12. Mexico (200.7 million USD)

Beer Imports By Country

The U.S. (3.9M tonnes) was the major importer of beer in the world, reaching 3.9M tonnes, which was near 26% of total imports in 2016. It was distantly followed by the UK (1.1M tonnes), France (783K tonnes), Germany (727K tonnes), and Italy (693K tonnes), together comprising 22% share of total beer imports. China (646K tonnes), Spain (493K tonnes), the Netherlands (483K tonnes), Australia (395K tonnes), Canada (381K tonnes), Belgium (295K tonnes), and Mexico (253K tonnes) occupied the slight share of total imports.

Imports into the U.S. increased at an average annual rate of +1.3% from 2007 to 2016. At the same time, China (+45.7%), Spain (+28.6%), Australia (+9.1%), Mexico (+6.6%), Belgium (+5.5%), Germany (+2.9%), Canada (+2.6%), France (+2.4%), the UK (+2.1%), the Netherlands (+1.9%), and Italy (+1.0%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, China emerged as the fastest growing importer/exporter in the world, with a CAGR of +45.7% from 2007-2016. While the share of the U.S. (-2.9%), Spain (-3.0%), and China (-4.2%) decreased significantly, the shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, the U.S. ($5.1B) constitutes the largest market for imported beer worldwide, making up 37% of global imports. The second position in the ranking was occupied by the UK ($721M), with the share of 5% of global imports. It was followed by France, with the share of 5%.

In the U.S., beer imports stood at an average annual rate of +2.9% over the period from 2007-2016. The remaining importing countries recorded the following average annual rates: the UK (-0.5% per year) and France (+3.1% per year).

Beer Import Prices By Country

The average beer import price stood at $927 per tonne in 2016, jumping by 3% against the previous year. Overall, beer import price continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2009, when import increased by 10% year-to-year. Over the period under review, average beer import price reached its maximum level of $1,011 per tonne in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2016, it stood at a somewhat lower level.

Import prices varied noticeably by country of destination. the country with the highest import prices was Canada ($1,498 per tonne), while Spain ($597 per tonne) was among the lowest.

From 2007 to 2016, the most notable growth rate of beer import prices was attained by the Netherlands (+2.9% per year), while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Do you want to know more about global beer market? Get the latest trends and insight from our report. It includes a wide range of statistics on

• beer market share
• beer prices
• beer industry
• beer sales
• beer import
• beer export
• beer market forecast
• beer price forecast
• key beer producers

All data provided in this article covers the following product: HS Code 2203 - Beer made from malt.

Source: World: Beer - Market Report. Analysis and Forecast to 2025