Belgium: brewers face historic drop in exports

Brussels – A distinctive monument of Belgium is losing its pieces: beer is no longer fashionable, and consumption has plummeted in the country and exports.

According to a new report by the Belgian Federation of the Brewing Industry, beer exports dropped dramatically in 2023. It attributed the decline to inflation, a purchasing power crisis, and staff shortages, press agency Belga explains.

After the 2020 epidemic, which had a huge impact on the beer industry, beer consumption recovered in 2021 and 2022. In 2023, however, the figures started to fall again, with a 5.8 percent drop in the kingdom to 6.5 million hectoliters of beer (translating into 60 liters per head for every Belgian, including newborns).

The decline is part of an overall drop in beer consumption that has been going on for more than 20 years. However, this time, the decline in domestic demand is no longer offset by booming exports. Exports declined for the fourth consecutive year, registering the sharpest drop ever: minus 7.5 percent, to 15 million hectoliters. One percentage point higher than the previous year. Exports to non-European countries were particularly affected.

According to the Belgian Brewers Federation, the decline in exports is due to a sharp reduction in competitiveness due to rising wages and energy costs, for example, which make it difficult to remain competitive in the face of growing local supply in export countries. They also note changing consumption patterns that play havoc with exports.