Spain: Beer exports down for the second year in a row

Spanish beer exports declined for the second year in a row in 2024, slumping around 19% to 3.37 million hectolitres (m hl), Yahoo Finance reported on June 12.

According to data from the Asociación de Cerveceros de España. it marked the second straight year of falling export volumes following a record in 2022, when they reached 4.28m hl.

"This development reflects a new phase in the internationalisation of the sector, in which Spanish breweries have consolidated their implementation projects in key markets," the industry association said in its latest report.

The largest importer of Spanish beers in 2024 was Cuba, taking in 26% of Spain's total exports. It was followed by the UK, which made up 14%, a similar level to the prior year, the trade body said.

Italy, meanwhile, booked a 97% increase in imported volumes of Spanish beer, with the country taking in 3% of Spain's total beer exports.

In terms of beer going into Spain, imports were up 1% on 2023 at 5.77m h. Belgium was the top supplier of beer to Spain with 2.5m hl in 2024, making up 44% of total imported beer to the country.

Portugal and France followed, making up 16% and 12% of Spain's beer imports.

From a domestic consumption perspective, beer sales in Spain dropped 0.2% to 38.6m hl.

While the decline was smaller than the 0.7% dip in 2023, "2024 has not shown any major signs of recovery" for Spain's brewing sector, Asociación de Cerveceros de España said.

Per capita consumption also dropped in Spain, falling 4.9% to 52.8 litres, showing "a more restrained consumption pattern among the Spanish population, which maintains moderation as its central characteristic".

The results also position Spain as "one of the European countries with the lowest per capita consumption", the industry association added.

Inflation, global economic uncertainty and "greater planning when going out", were the main reasons given for the drop in consumption.

While at-home and overseas sales of Spanish beer declined last year, non-alcoholic beer sales grew in the country by 4% and made up 25% of all non-alcoholic beer consumed within the EU.

Non-alcoholic beers made up 14% of total beer drunk by Spanish consumers in 2024, with a 16% ratio being consumed at home.