Beer is the world’s second-highest selling imported alcoholic beverage trailing only wine. But in its most powerful consumer market the United States, beer is the most popular alcoholic drink. In the US, imported beer sales equaled US$6 billion in 2020 outpacing the $5.9 billion for imported wine.

Overall, worldwide demand for imported beer resulted in $15.6 billion worth of purchases in 2020. The annual value of imported beer sales over the latest 5-year period gained 10.1% compared to 2016.

From 2019 to 2020, the dollar amount spent on imported beer declined by -5.6%.

The 5 most attractive global consumer markets for selling imported beer accounted for well over half (57%) of total import purchases of ale bought via international markets in 2020. The strongest cashflows for buying imported beer were generated by: United States (38.2% of world’s total), France (6.6%), China (4.4%), United Kingdom (4.3%) and Italy (3.5%).

Among these 5 key markets, the highest year-over-year buying increase was the 2.1% gain generated by importers in America, the world leader in demand for imported brew. In contrast, imports of beer into Italy slowed by -19% year over year while China’s purchases of imported beer slipped -15.2%.

In many countries, beer can be easily purchased at a myriad of shopping destinations from local beer stores to online craft beer shops.

The taste of beer varies by the cereal grains from which it was brewed. The most common of these cereals are malted barley and, less commonly, wheat, corn, rice and oats. Some brewers add flavoring agents such as herbs or fruits or replace natural carbonation with forced carbonation.

By comparing changes in consumer demand for imported beer by buyer country highlighted in this article, researchers can uncover the most compelling opportunities for selling beer and related products and services on international markets.

Beer Is A Consumer Convenience Product

Beer satisfies the criteria of a consumer good (also called an end product) created for consumers to buy in its final form to quench their thirst, to enrich their cooking or as a party refreshment. In contrast, products like turbojets are usually purchased by companies or government entities rather than individuals.

Economists classify beer as a convenience product, a technical classification for goods that are easily accessed and purchased relatively often. Many shoppers buy beer on weekly trips to their local liquor stores or grocery shops.

According to EatByDate.com, a typical bottle or can of beer lasts from 6 months to 2 years past the expiration date printed on the beer container’s label if unopened and stored properly in a refrigerator.

Also, be aware that eventually beer does go flat and consequently will taste bad. Many common beers have a short shelf life of roughly 6 weeks if not refrigerated.

Imported Beer by Country

The pre-sorted list below showcases marketing intelligence for the top 100 buyers of beer, ranked in descending order starting with the greatest annual sales amount at the 4-digit Harmonized System (HS) code level. For beer, the HS code prefix is 2203.

Please note that the metrics presented in this article are for beer made from malt.

Also shown is the percentage change in worldwide purchases of imported beer from 2019 to 2020.

United States: US$5,977,473,000 (up 2.1% from 2019)
France: $1,032,129,000 (up 1.5%)
China: $695,086,000 (down -15.2%)
United Kingdom: $669,073,000 (up 0.7%)
Italy: $547,494,000 (down -19%)
Netherlands: $469,585,000 (up 1.7%)
Germany: $454,540,000 (down -13%)
Canada: $441,772,000 (down -19.2%)
Russia: $369,283,000 (up 14%)
Spain: $340,436,000 (up 2.7%)
Ireland: $289,522,000 (up 30.9%)
Australia: $259,308,000 (down -21.8%)
South Korea: $226,920,000 (down -19.2%)
Taiwan: $205,322,000 (up 3.9%)
Belgium: $173,275,000 (down -13.2%)
Chile: $162,920,000 (down -26.6%)
United Arab Emirates: $147,955,000 (up 56.3%)
Sweden: $131,695,000 (down -1.2%)
Switzerland: $117,414,000 (up 2.8%)
Paraguay: $115,213,000 (down -13.6%)
Hong Kong: $115,037,000 (down -3%)
Singapore: $112,690,000 (down -22.9%)
South Africa: $112,333,000 (down -53.7%)
Slovakia: $87,377,000 (up 10.6%)
Hungary: $77,804,000 (up 1.5%)
Poland: $77,740,000 (up 5%)
Honduras: $76,027,000 (up 28.1%)
Israel: $71,355,000 (up 15.2%)
Guatemala: $67,723,000 (down -20.4%)
Ukraine: $67,112,000 (up 17.4%)
New Zealand: $62,965,000 (down -11.6%)
Austria: $61,754,000 (down -33.7%)
Bosnia/Herzegovina: $60,867,000 (down -6.6%)
Denmark: $58,972,000 (down -17.2%)
Japan: $58,713,000 (down -11.1%)
Latvia: $54,399,000 (down -5.2%)
Bulgaria: $53,749,000 (up 0.3%)
Croatia: $52,663,000 (down -0.2%)
Portugal: $51,605,000 (up 6.9%)
Panama: $50,742,000 (down -15.6%)
Belarus: $50,536,000 (down -16.3%)
Norway: $50,221,000 (down -1%)
Romania: $48,627,000 (up 26.8%)
Luxembourg: $41,908,000 (down -8.9%)
Finland: $40,082,000 (down -13%)
Lithuania: $39,110,000 (up 10.2%)
Botswana: $36,506,000 (down -19.8%)
Iraq: $32,779,000 (down -22%)
Vietnam: $32,153,000 (up 102%)
Mexico: $30,875,000 (down -66.8%)
Equatorial Guinea: $30,014,000 (down -11%)
Slovenia: $29,886,000 (down -1.2%)
Czech Republic: $29,763,000 (no data)
Cuba: $28,529,000 (down -24%)
Malaysia: $26,870,000 (down -4.5%)
Peru: $25,992,000 (up 9.2%)
Kazakhstan: $25,728,000 (down -32.1%)
Greece: $25,607,000 (down -26.6%)
Colombia: $24,950,000 (down -64.8%)
Argentina: $24,829,000 (down -16.6%)
Costa Rica: $24,196,000 (up 53.4%)
Burkina Faso: $22,333,000 (up 2620%)
Zambia: $22,151,000 (down -26.1%)
Uruguay: $21,964,000 (up 8.4%)
Estonia: $20,978,000 (down -4.8%)
Serbia: $20,608,000 (up 6.1%)
Macao: $18,392,000 (down -20.4%)
Albania: $18,341,000 (down -4%)
Thailand: $16,320,000 (down -3.8%)
Mozambique: $15,824,000 (down -45.8%)
El Salvador: $15,430,000 (down -20.9%)
Brazil: $15,263,000 (down -64.2%)
Bolivia: $15,048,000 (up 27.8%)
Dominican Republic: $14,691,000 (down -46.6%)
Moldova: $14,115,000 (up 3.2%)
Andorra: $13,338,000 (down -16%)
Senegal: $12,809,000 (up 5.7%)
CuraÃ§ao: $12,705,000 (down -36.9%)
Turkey: $12,274,000 (down -5.3%)
Belize: $12,251,000 (up 104%)
Bahrain: $12,086,000 (down -48.1%)
South Sudan: $11,987,000 (up 3.4%)
Cambodia: $10,715,000 (down -58.9%)
Cyprus: $10,422,000 (down -24.8%)
Uganda: $10,260,000 (up 22.2%)
Iceland: $9,744,000 (up 6.6%)
Ecuador: $9,715,000 (down -36.7%)
Morocco: $9,117,000 (down -6.3%)
Guinea: $9,077,000 (down -8.7%)
Montenegro: $8,982,000 (down -11.7%)
Oman: $8,669,000 (down -40.6%)
Ghana: $8,449,000 (up 216.9%)
Ivory Coast: $7,844,000 (down -17.3%)
Cabo Verde: $7,546,000 (down -28.8%)
Lesotho: $7,526,000 (down -40.7%)
Guinea-Bissau: $7,334,000 (down -8.6%)
Malta: $7,107,000 (down -28.5%)
Aruba: $7,024,000 (down -37.4%)
Tanzania: $6,806,000 (down -11.3%)
Bahamas: $6,689,000 (down -36.8%)

Among the above 100 global markets, 35 countries increased their spending on imported beer. The 7 strongest percentage gains year over year were posted by Burkina Faso (up 2,620%), Ghana (up 216.9%), Belize (up 104%), Vietnam (up 102%), United Arab Emirates (up 56.3%), Costa Rica (up 53.4%) and Ireland (up 30.9%).

Leading the 65 decliners year over year was Oman via -90.2% drop. Significant reductions in beer imported by value were also experienced by Mexico (down -66.8%), Colombia (down -64.8%), Brazil (down -64.2%), Cambodia (down -58.9%) and South Africa (down -53.7%).

Richest Global Markets for Imported Beer

Illustrated below is the market demand for beer imported during 2020 by 30 of world’s richest countries in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per person, according to RichestCountryReports.com.

Countries are listed in descending order starting with the wealthiest economy in terms of GDP per capita.

Luxembourg: US$41.9 million (Down -8.9%)
Singapore: $112.7 million (Down -22.9%)
Ireland: $289.5 million (Up 30.9%)
Qatar: $3.7 million (Down -60.3%)
Macao: $18.4 million (Down -20.4%)
Switzerland: $117.4 million (Up 2.8%)
Norway: $50.2 million (Down -1%)
United States: $6 billion (Up 2.1%)
Brunei Darussalam: $468,000(Up 57%)
Hong Kong: $115 million (Down -3%)
Denmark: $59 million (Down -17.2%)
Netherlands: $469.6 million (Up 1.7%)
United Arab Emirates: $148 million (Up 56.3%)
Taiwan: $205.3 million (Up 3.9%)
Iceland: $9.7 million (Up 6.6%)
Austria: $61.8 million (Down -33.7%)
Germany: $454.5 million (Down -13%)
Sweden: $131.7 million (Down -1.2%)
Australia: $259.3 million (Down -21.8%)
Belgium: $173.3 million (Down -13.2%)
Finland: $40.1 million (Down -13%)
Canada: $441.8 million (Down -19.2%)
Bahrain: $12.1 million (Down -48.1%)
France: $1 billion (Up 1.5%)
United Kingdom: $669.1 million (Up 0.7%)
South Korea: $226.9 million (Down -19.2%)
Malta: $7.1 million (Down -28.5%)
Japan: $58.7 million (Down -11.1%)
New Zealand: $63 million (Down -11.6%)
Italy: $547.5 million (Down -19%)

Among the above wealthiest economies per capita, 10 spent more on imported beer in 2020 compared to 2019. The leading gainers were Brunei Darussalam (up 57%), United Arab Emirates (up 56.3%), Ireland (up 30.9%), Iceland (up 6.6%), Taiwan (up 3.9%), Switzerland (up 2.8%) and the world’s most powerful market for imported beer, the United States (up 2.1%).

Registering the severest double-digit declines in imported brew purchases were: Qatar (down -60.3%), Bahrain (down -48.1%), Austria (down -33.7%), Malta (down -28.5%), Singapore (down -22.9%) and Australia (down -21.8%).

Enduring the greatest declines were United Arab Emirates (down -57%), Singapore (down -45%), Hong Kong (down -26.4%), New Zealand (down -24.7%), Bahrain (down -24.4%), Canada (down -23.1%) and United Kingdom (down -20.9%).

US Demand for Imported Beer

In 2020, the United States of America retained its crown as the world’s strongest market for imported beer sales as measured by total purchases worth $6 billion in US dollars.

America’s top 5 beer suppliers (Mexico, Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland, Canada) attracted 96.2% of total US purchases of beer from international markets.

The following 15 countries benefited the most from selling imported beer into the United States in 2020.

Mexico: US$4.2 billion (71.1% of US total)
Netherlands: $860 million (14.4%)
Belgium: $363.9 million (6.1%)
Ireland: $172.8 million (2.9%)
Canada: $105.4 million (1.8%)
Germany: $77.2 million (1.3%)
Italy: $26.6 million (0.4%)
Jamaica: $19.7 million (0.3%)
United Kingdom: $14.9 million (0.2%)
Poland: $10.6 million (0.2%)
Czech Republic: $9 million (0.2%)
Vietnam: $8.5 million (0.1%)
Austria: $6.1 million (0.1%)
Guatemala: $5.3 million (0.1%)
Japan: $5 million (0.1%)

The above 15 international providers sold 99.3% of the $6 billion worth of imported beer delivered to the United States during 2020.

Year over year, 4 international beer suppliers realized higher revenues shipping beer to American buyers in 2020 compared to beer one year earlier. Those 4 gainers were Guatemala (up 16.6%), Netherlands (up 11.9%), Czech Republic (up 5.2%) and Mexico (up 4.9%).

Key American States for Buying Imported Beer

There were 4 American states or territories where beer ranks among that entity’s top 25 imported products by value in 2020.

Illinois: US$3.7 billion worth of imported beer (up 7.1% from 2019)
Missouri: $318.2 million (down -9.1%)
Hawaii: $12.1 million (down -1.5%)
Virgin Islands: $3.1 million (down -48.1%)

Based on the above metrics, Illinois ranks as the most robust market among US states.

Unit Costs by Major US Beer Suppliers

The United States of America paid a wide range of unit costs per cubic meter of imported beer in 2020, depending on the beer shipper’s country of origin.

Below, you will find the average unit price that American importers paid to 15 of the top beer suppliers to the US in 2020. They are presented in descending order starting with the nations that supplied the highest total dollar value worth of brew to the US.

Mexico: US$1,376 per cubic meter (up 2.3% from 2019)
Netherlands: $1,604 per cubic meter (up 1%)
Belgium: $1,717 per cubic meter (up 9.2%)
Ireland: $1,688 per cubic meter (down -5.9%)
Canada: $725 per cubic meter (down -2.2%)
Germany: $1,321 per cubic meter (up 0.5%)
Italy: $869 per cubic meter (up 1.6%)
Jamaica: $1,368 per cubic meter (down -9.2%)
United Kingdom: $1,766 per cubic meter (up 0.2%)
Poland: $944 per cubic meter (down -3.5%)
Czech Republic: $1,119 per cubic meter (up 8.2%)
Vietnam: $1,552 per cubic meter (down -1.8%)
Austria: $1,520 per cubic meter (up 0.1%)
Guatemala: $819 per cubic meter (down -6.8%)
Japan: $1,949 per cubic meter (up 6.9%)

The lowest unit cost per cubic meter of beer imported into the United States belongs to suppliers in Canada, Italy, Guatemala and Poland.

America pays the highest unit price per cubic meter of beer to suppliers in Japan, United Kingdom and Belgium.

The fastest growth in unit cost per cubic meter for beer suppliers belong to Belgium (up 9.2% from 2019), Czech Republic (up 8.2%) and Japan (up 6.9%).

World’s Biggest Beer Makers

Below you will find the top 8 largest multinationals that sell beer both domestically and on international markets.

The list was ranked in descending order based on the highest company revenues according to the Forbes 2000 listing for 2020. Please note that those overall revenues may include cashflows from other product lines beyond beer.

Anheuser-Busch Inbev (Louvain, Belgium): US$46.8 billion
Heineken (Amsterdam, Netherlands): $22.5 billion
Asahi (Tokyo, Japan): $19 billion
Kirin (Tokyo, Japan): $17.3 billion
Molson Coors (Denver, USA): $9.7 billion
Carlsberg (Copenhagen, Denmark): $9 billion
Constellation Brands (Victor, USA): $8.6 billion
Thai Beverage (Bangkok, Thailand): $8.1 billion

Shown within brackets is the city which serves as the global headquarters for each beer-making conglomerate.

References

Independent insights and analysis presented in this article are based on researched facts and statistics sourced from the following educational portals.

BoyceWire, Consumer Goods Definition.

Eat By Date, How Long Does Beer Last?.

Forbes, The Forbes Global 2000 List.

International Trade Centre, Trade Map.

Investopedia, Consumer Goods, Consumer Staples Definition, Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG).

Largest.com, 9 Largest Beer Companies in the World.

Richest Country Reports, Top 50 Richest Countries by GDP per Capita.

United States Census Bureau, Foreign Trade State Data.

USITC DataWeb, US Merchandise Trade: Imports for Consumption.

Wikipedia, Beer.

World’s Top Exports, Beer Exporters by Country.