Global Beer Production Falls 1.4 Billion Liters, Hop Shortage Worsens

An analysis by BarthHaas, the world’s largest hop trader, shows that global beer output fell 0.7% last year to 189.6 billion litres, a loss of about 1.4 billion litres. The decline was strongest in Australia and Oceania (‑2.4%, 1.8 billion litres) and Europe (‑1.6% to 51 billion litres), driven by drops in Germany and Poland. Germany, producing 7.9 billion litres, remains the sixth‑largest producer after China, the United States, Brazil, Mexico and Russia. Asia’s output fell 1.2% to 59 billion litres, with China still the world’s largest brewer, accounting for more than one‑sixth of total volume. North America slipped 1.9% to 34 billion litres, with the United States losing roughly 1 billion litres, while South America rose 1.7% to 25 billion litres, largely thanks to Brazil’s increase of about 15 billion litres. Africa posted the only regional gain, up 2.6% to 17 billion litres.

At the same time, the global hop harvest contracted. Planting area fell 5.5% to 52,660 ha and the harvest dropped 3.8% to 109,188 t. Germany still leads in hop acreage and yield, ahead of the United States, but experts warn the crop remains in excess of demand, with production projected to outpace needs through 2025.