France: In the first five months of 2004, French beer consumption in terms of volumes declined 2.5% versus the same period in 2003, Brasseurs de France have recently revealed. The decline is sharpest in the cafes-hotels-restaurants sector where a 5% dip in volumes so far this year is largely put down to the steady reduction in the number of outlets. The figures are in keeping with the long-term trend, which has seen the French market decrease by 25% in volume terms over the past 25 years.

Last summer's thirst-inducing heatwave was the main factor in a 2.6% increase in French beer consumption in 2003, to 21 million hectolitres on the previous year's levels. However, if the impact of the sizzling weather were excluded, consumption would have shown a fall of 3%, notes French brewers association, Brasseurs de France. Brasseurs de France is planning a concerted marketing drive in 2005 to take the market out of the doldrums.

According to the statistics of Douanes the export of French beer decreased 10.6% in 2003 (2.045 millions hectolitres versus 2.289 millions hectolitres en 2002). However, beer imports increased (5.081 million hl in 2003 versus 4.801 million hl in 2002).

France is the fifth largest beer maker of Europe with more than 181.1 million hl of beer produced in 2003, of which 10% was exported mainly in Europe. The Association accounts for 39 breweries that output more than 250 types of beers.