Argentina: Wine doing well in Argentina, beer not so much

According to data from the National Institute of Viticulture, the Argentine wine sector started the year with positive signs, with domestic wine sales registering 6.5% growth during the first four months of 2025, FreshlyBottled.com reported on June 23.

In April alone, shipments increased 7.9% year-over-year, totaling 58.5 million litres. This represents an additional 13.6 million litres compared to April 2024, and marks the fourth consecutive month of growth: 9.9% in January, 6% in February, 1.9% in March, and 7.9% in April. Between January and April 2025, growth was mainly driven by red wine sales (14.1%), while white wine fell by 10.6%.

On the other hand, the Argentine beer industry is in a critical situation due to the drop in consumption. The Quilmes Brewery and Malt House, the largest in the country, is preparing for the first time in its history to temporarily close its plant in Quilmes. The decision comes amid a sharp drop in mass consumption, which is already impacting production. Sales have reportedly fallen by more than 40%, leading the company to plan the temporary suspension of operations at its main brewery, which employs around 6,000 people directly and supports more than 130,000 indirect jobs.