Frankfurt (Germany) (AFP) – It is news that will leave brewers feeling flat — German beer sales hit their lowest level in the first half of the year since records began over three decades ago. From January to June, sales of alcoholic beer fell 6.3 percent compared to the same time last year to 3.9 billion litres, federal statistics agency Destatis said Friday. That was the lowest since figures on beer sales were first collected in 1993, it said, with demand declining both at home and abroad.
Domestic sales slumped 6.1 percent year-on-year to 3.2 billion litres, similar to the size of the drop seen at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. Exports meanwhile tumbled 7.1 percent. Like many other industries, German beer exporters have in recent months faced tariffs in the major US market imposed by President Donald Trump.
Beer consumption has fallen over recent decades in Germany as a result of an ageing population as well as changing tastes — non-alcoholic beers have been growing in popularity, although they are not counted in the figures. Holger Eichele, head of the German Brewers’ Federation, said 2025 was set to be “an extremely demanding year for us”.
“Geopolitical risks have greatly intensified and uncertainty is increasing for exporters,” he said. He also pointed to “consumers not wanting to spend.” This is particularly true in Germany, where the economy is struggling to pull itself out of a long downturn.
© 2024 AFP
