Beer Industry Overview: Get the Latest Market Reports, Satistics & Trends

Global Beer Industry

One of the major industry within the alcoholic beverage sector is the beer industry. Standard lager represents the leading market segment, accounting for more than 55% of the overall market. The market is characterized by fragmentation. The three leading companies hold a combined market share in excess of 40% in terms of volume.

Global Industry Analysts predicts the world beer market will see growth lead by emerging nations like Latin America, Middle East and Asia-Pacific. Market expansion will be fuelled by rising disposable income, the spread of Western influence on lifestyles worldwide and economic growth. Beer is the world’s number-one alcoholic beverage, with consumption suitable for various occasions at home, in restaurants, bars and clubs.

Beer remains a versatile product, with the launch of a wide range of new flavors boosting the drink’s popularity. Consumption is also being fuelled by a trend toward drinking beer with meals. Widespread health concerns among consumers is also encouraging a trend toward beer, which usually has less than 5% alcohol content, rather than other higher alcohol content beverages.

Beer Industry Leaders

Anheuser-Busch InBev remains the global leader in the beer market, with over 20% market share in terms of volume, according to MarketLine.

Beer & Brewing Regional Market Share

Brazil, Russia,India and China (BRIC) are recording the highest rate of market growth within the global beer industry. India leads the group in terms of growth. Chinaleads the group in terms of revenue. China is forecast to remain at the top of the BRIC countries.

Indian beer consumers are opting for beer due to rising income levels in the country. Microbreweries have sprung up to cater to this increased demand in Pune, Bangalore and Gurgaon. As tax on imported beer rises, microbreweries are proving the more cost-effective option to meet domestic demand for beer in India.

In Asia-Pacific’s beer industry, standard lager represents the leading market segment with 75% of the overall market.

The US leads these nations, accounting for more than 30% of the overall market. The US beer industry is expected to remain in the top spot of the G8 nations.

Beer Market Outlook

Beer demand is expected to rise due to a trend toward lower alcohol content beverages as consumers become increasingly aware of the link between the consumption of high alcohol content drinks and health issues. Other factors, such as the rise in female beer consumers, will fuel market growth, reports Global Industry Analysts.

Demand from developing nations will also boost global sales. Companies will seek to move into emerging markets as already established markets offer less and less opportunities. The movement into newer markets will give rise to new product flavors to cater to diverse consumer tastes. Companies will also focus their marketing efforts on capturing the expanding consumer base represented by female consumers. Catering to female tastes will see the launch of new products like flower beer, fruit-infused beer and milk beer.

Leading Beer Industry Associations

• National Beer Wholesalers Association 
• British Beer and Pub Association 
• Brewers Association (US) 
• Brewers Association of Canada 
• Master Brewers Association of the Americas 
• The European Beer Consumers Union 
• Brewers Association of Australia and New Zealand