France: Beer market declined by 25% in the last 25 years

In 2004 every French drank about 33.7 litres of beer that is 4% decrease compared to 2003. The total French beer consumption in 2004 was of 20.2 million hl. The figures were revealed by Association des Brasseurs de France on July 7. The association said France is the fifth largest beer producer in Europe with about 16.8 million hl of beer output in 2004 of which 10% is exported mainly to Europe.

According to customs statistics, beer exports of France remained stable at 2 million hl. However beer imports increased by about 7% in 2004 and accounted for 5.4 million hl compared to 5 million hl in 2003.

French beer market decreased by 25% in the last 25 years. Association des Brasseurs de France attributed the decrease to the general decrease of alcohol consumption in France since 1960. Per capita alcohol consumption decrease from 17.7 litres in 1961 to 10.5 litres in 2002 of which only 15% is accounted for by beer.

Association des Brasseurs de France consists of 48 brewing companies of different size spread all over France, which accounts for 99% of French beer production: Brasserie artisanale des Albères - Brasserie L. & L. Alphand - Brasserie d'Annoeullin - Brasserie artisanale Bailleux - Brasserie Balzane - Brasserie Basabürüa - Brasserie Artisanale du Bouffay - Brasseries de Bourbon - Brasserie Bourganel - Britt Brasserie de Bretagne - Brasserie de la Brière - Brasserie du Canardou - Brasserie Castelain - Brasserie la Chapelle Cervoiserie Northmaen - Brasserie des Cimes - Brasserie du Chant du Loup - Brasserie la Cornue - Brasserie de Corse - Brasserie artisanale de la Divatte - Brasserie Duyck- Brasserie Fischer - Brasseurs de Gayant - Brasserie artisanale des Grands-Cols - Brasseries Heineken - InBev France - Brasseries Kronenbourg - Brasserie La Choulette - Brasserie Lancelot - Brasserie la Rouget de Lisle - Brasserie Meteor - Brasserie de Milly - Brasserie Distillerie du Mont-Blanc - Brasserie Moulin d’Ascq - Brasserie du Pays Basque - Brasserie Pietra - Brasserie artisanale Ratz - Brasserie de Saint Germain - Brasserie de Saint-Omer - Brasserie artisanale de Saint-Pierre - Brasserie Sancerroise - Brasserie de Saverne - Brasserie du Sollier - Brasserie Schutzenberger - Brasserie Theillier - Brasserie Thiriez - Brasserie Uberach - Brasserie de Vauclair - Ferme Brasserie du Vexin.

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