Brussels – In 2024, EU nations produced 32.7 billion liters of alcoholic beer and 2 billion liters of non-alcoholic beer, totaling 34.7 billion liters. The production of beer with less than 0.5 percent alcohol content saw a significant rise of 11.1 percent from the previous year, surpassing the growth of alcoholic beer, which increased by 0.6 percent. Eurostat released these statistics to coincide with International Beer Day, celebrated on the first Friday in August.
The rankings of the largest beer producers in the EU remained unchanged in 2024. Germany led in alcoholic beer production with 7.2 billion liters (and 578 million liters of non-alcoholic beer), accounting for over one-fifth of the total EU alcoholic beer output. Spain followed with 4.0 billion liters (12.3 percent of total EU production), Poland with 3.4 billion liters (10.6 percent), the Netherlands with 2.2 billion liters (6.8 percent), and Belgium with 2.1 billion liters (6.3 percent). Austria also made the top ten with 787 million liters of alcoholic beer and 33 million liters of non-alcoholic beer.
The Netherlands retains its title as the largest exporter
In 2024, the Netherlands continued to be the leading exporter of alcoholic beer brewed with hops and malt, despite a 12 percent decline from 2023, with 1.5 billion liters consumed both domestically and internationally. This amount represents approximately one-fifth of total EU beer exports, although it is 0.2 billion liters less than the previous year. Germany and Belgium followed suit, both exporting a steady 1.4 billion liters.
France was the top importer of alcoholic beer, bringing in 0.8 billion liters. Other significant importers included Italy with over 0.7 billion liters, alongside Spain and Germany with nearly 0.6 billion liters each, and the Netherlands with just under 0.5 billion liters. (06.08.2025)
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