Brazil: Beer production up 2.9% in 2020

Brazil’s beer production increased by 2.9% in 2020 to 14.1 mln hl, thus returning to the record level of 2014, the nation’s industry association CervBrasil said on August 22.

According to the association, the Covid-19 pandemic put pressure on costs but did not interfere with the growth of the nation’s beer sector. The first quarter of 2021 was positive in terms of production, too, and the reopening of bars and restaurants should give a further boost to the sector in the nearest months, CervBrasil said.

Brazilian brewers expect to beat the record of 2014 and 2020 in 2021, reaching a total output of 14.7 mln hl. “We forecast an increase of up to 5% in volume terms,” CervBrasil president Paulo Petroni said.

Brazil is the world’s third-largest beer producer after China and the US. The sector accounts for 1.7% of the nations’ GDP and employs 2.7 mln people.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture data, there are currently 1,383 brewing companies registered in Brazil.

Despite boosting the number of breweries in Brazil, craft beer only accounts for 1% of the Brazilian beer market at the moment. About 59% of the total beer output in Brazil is represented by top 10 best-selling brands. However, their market share has declined from 70% in 2014 owing to the growing popularity of premium (and more expensive) brands.

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