EU: EU beer production back to pre-pandemic levels, Eurostat says

European Union countries recovered their beer production levels to almost those preceding the pandemic years, producing nearly 34.3 billion litres of alcoholic beer in 2022,the bloc's statistical agency Eurostat said on August 3.

Beer production rose by 7% compared to 2021, almost exactly the same as 2019's figure of 34.7 billion litres.

The pandemic had a fairly pronounced negative impact on beer production and consumption, in no small part because of the closures of pubs and restaurants and the limits on socializing.

In addition, EU countries produced 1.6 billion litres of beer with between 0% and 0.5% alcohol content , roughly the same amount as in the previous year.

Germany maintained in 2022 its position as the bloc's top beer producer.

German brewers produced 7.6 billion liters of beer, about one quarter of the entire EU total.

Spain followed Germany, accounting for 3.9 billion litres of the bloc's beer production, then Poland with 3.7 billion litres, the Netherlands with 2.6 billion litres, and France and Italy with 2 billion litres apiece.

The Netherlands also continued to lead the bloc as top exporter of alcoholic beer, exporting some 2.6 billion litres, Eurostat said, 27% of the bloc's total beer exports.

The main destination of EU-produced beer was the United Kingdom (with 860 million litres, 21% of total extra-EU beer exports) and the United States (716 million litres, or 18%).

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