USA: The US off-Premises Beer Market Grew by 39% from 2000 to 2005 and is Now Worth $8.5 Billion

Research and Markets research and markets has announced on December 22 that the addition of Imported Beer in the United States to their offering.

The off-premises market for imported beer in the U.S. in 2005 is estimated at $8.5 billion. The market grew 39% between 2000 and 2005 at current prices, outperforming domestic beer sales. It also bettered the market's fastest growing sub-segment, light/low calorie beer (see Domestic Beer, September 2005). At current prices, imports grew 39% during the review period, compared to 16% for the entire domestic market and 27% for domestic light/low calorie beer. Growth was driven by consumer's interest in premium alcoholic beverage products and their willingness to "trade-up" from domestics to imports.

The imported beer market faces increasing competition from domestic light beer, wine, and spirits. Although imported beer products have continued to sell well, beer sales in general have declined or slowed. As wine and spirits gain in popularity, consumption of beer is declining on a per capita basis. The future success of the industry will depend on its ability to maintain imported beer's positioning as an "affordable luxury," and win back consumers who now favor wine or spirits. Manufacturers will need to integrate more premium light beers into their portfolios without cannibalizing sales of regular premium imports. Based on our research, overall growth in the category between 2005 and 2010 will be moderate -- forecast to increase 29% at constant prices from 2005 to 2010.

This report covers all beer products produced outside of the U.S. This beer would be purchased for at-home consumption (sold in cans and bottles) and includes:Light/low calorie

-Low-carb

-Regular

-Non-alcoholic

Domestic beers and malt-based beverages are excluded from the scope of this report.