For the first time, Russia has surpassed Germany in global beer production volume, according to a report published Tuesday by the German economic daily Handelsblatt, citing the annual industry analysis from top hop producer BarthHaas.
"Beer production in Russia increased by approximately 9% to 9.1 billion liters. In contrast, production in Germany declined by 1%, down to 8.4 billion liters," the report states.
Just five years ago, Germany held a lead of 1.4 billion liters over Russia, the newspaper notes. The shift illustrates a broader trend in global consumption and production patterns.
China continues to lead the world in beer production with 34 billion liters, followed by the United States with 18 billion. Brazil and Mexico occupy the third and fourth spots with 14.7 and 14.5 billion liters respectively. However, overall global beer output declined in 2024, totaling just 187.5 billion liters.
Germany’s decline in beer output is attributed to falling demand, particularly in Western nations where purchasing power is diminishing and consumers are increasingly turning to alternative beverages. Many small German breweries are also facing financial hardships, Handelsblatt reports.
"The increase in beer production in Russia is largely due to a sharp drop in imports and a corresponding boost in domestic brewing capacity," the article adds.
Despite the trend, Germany in May regained its position as the leading beer supplier from the EU to the Russian market. This came after Czech exports to Russia fell by 28%, allowing German shipments — worth €1.6 million — to top the charts. In total, the EU exported €7.6 million worth of beer to Russia in May, a 4% decrease from April.
Meanwhile, Germany still dominates global hop cultivation with an annual yield of 46,500 tons, followed by the United States with nearly 40,000 tons. Combined, these two countries account for two-thirds of the world’s hop supply, the report says.
In Russia, only 330 tons of hops were harvested in 2024, while total domestic demand from the brewing industry exceeds 4,000 tons annually. Russian Agriculture Minister Oksana Luth previously outlined a strategy to raise domestic hop self-sufficiency to nearly 50% by 2030.
