World: China�s January-February beer production beats last year�s output by 61%

China’s January-February beer production totalled 50.47 mln hl, 61% more than the corona-affected output in January-February of last year, H. M. Gauger GmbH reported earlier this month.

Germany’s February beer output was 5.2 mln hl, minus 19.1% year-on-year; January-February volume totalled 9.96 mln hl, minus 23.0%. As per competent private statistics the alcohol-free beer sales were 6.6 mln hl in 2020, which lifts the total beer sales figure from 87.1 to 93.7 mln hl. The market share was 7%. Propelled by the health crisis, AFB is reported to grow fast, in Germany and many other markets of the world.

In Russia, January-February beer production increased by 5.8% to 10.3 mln hl.

Ukraine’s January-February output totalled 1.98 mln hl, minus 3.6% y/y.

USA domestic tax-paid January-February beer shipments totalled 24.350 mln bbls., plus 2.5% y/y. Estimates are that hard seltzer, which is listed and taxed like beer, but does not contain any malt, will reach a share of 15% of the U.S. beer market. Beer imports were 3.14 mln bbls. in January, plus 11.7% y/y.