Belgium: Belgium exports more beer than home consumption

Belgian beer exports have been on the rise for a number of years now, but since last year Belgium is exporting more than is consumed in the country itself, Flanders News reported June 14.

In 2006 Belgian beer exports rose by 15%, while the amount of beer consumed in Belgium itself fell to under 90 litres per Belgian for the first time ever. (Belga) 55% of Belgian beer production is now sent abroad.

The success of this Belgian product also means that more beer is being produced.

Last year Belgian beer production rose by 6%, while beer consumption at home fell once again.

The figures come from the Belgian Brewers' Federation and were published in Thursday's edition of the daily De Morgen.

Falling beer consumption at home is being linked to stricter drinking laws and the rising popularity of other beverages.

As a result of the trend more and more Belgian brewers are concentrating on foreign markets.

However, Philippe Moortgat, one of the country's major brewers, told De Morgen that falling sales at home are not good publicity for the sector abroad. (Belga) More exports mean greater investments
Many small Belgian brewers like Affligem and Lindemans already send between half and three-quarters of their beer production abroad.

Theo Vervloet of the Belgian Brewers' Federation told De Morgen that brewers now need to take heed of new concerns.

Beers have to be packaged to travel by sea.

Brewers have to ensure that the taste remains unchanged even when the product is a little colder or warmer than in our climes.

Such changes require new investments.

The Belgian brewing industry is the sixth largest sector in the food sector. When investments are considered it is the second largest industry in the food sector.

In 2006 investments worth 150 million euros were made.

Beer brewing is also a big employer. The industry needs brewers, but also transporters as well as marketing and advertising people.