December 21, 2011

Kirin Institute of Food and Lifestyle Report Vol. 33
Global Beer Consumption by Country in 2010

Global Beer Consumption Remains on a Growth Track for 25th Consecutive Year, Driven by Strong Demand in Asia, Latin America, and Africa

Kirin Institute of Food and Lifestyle—a research arm of Kirin Holdings Company, Ltd. (President and CEO: Senji Miyake)—today published a report on global beer consumption by country and by region for 2010. This report is based on findings from questionnaires sent to brewers associations in major countries as well as on the latest industry statistics available overseas. Kirin has been tracking global beer consumption since 1975.

Summary of Report

Global beer consumption amounted to 182.69 million kiloliters in 2010, up 2.4% from the previous year, marking the 25th consecutive annual increase.

China remained the largest beer-consuming country in the world for the eighth consecutive year, consuming 5.9% more beer in 2010 than in 2009. Among the world's 25 largest beer-consuming countries, Nigeria, India, and Brazil achieved the highest annual growth of 17.2%, 17.0%, and 16.0%, respectively, in beer consumption.

Asia, where 5.3% more beer was consumed in 2010 than in 2009, has maintained its growth momentum in beer consumption for more than 10 years, and took a 33.6% share of the global beer market in 2010. Latin America enjoyed annual growth of 6.5% in beer consumption in 2010, its highest annual growth rate over the past five years, and Africa achieved annual growth of 10.1% in 2010. Asia, Latin America, and Africa collectively drove global beer consumption in 2010.

In 2010, global beer consumption amounted to 182.69 million kiloliters, the equivalent of 288.6 billion 633-milliliter bottles. This was an increase of 4.33 million kiloliters (the equivalent of 6.84 billion 633-ml bottles), or 2.4%, from 2009, marking the 25th consecutive annual increase.

1. Global Beer Consumption by Country in 2010 (Table 1)

China remained the largest beer-consuming country in the world for the eighth consecutive year. The top 12 countries in a ranking of the world's beer-consuming countries in 2010 remained the same as in 2009. Japan, where annual beer consumption decreased by 2.8% from 2009 to 2010, remained at seventh place in the global ranking. Among the world's 25 largest beer-consuming countries, Nigeria, India, and Brazil achieved higher annual growth in beer consumption than others in 2010—17.2%, 17.0%, and 16.0%, respectively.

2. Global Beer Consumption by Region in 2010 (Table 2)

Beer consumption in Asia increased by 5.3% in 2010 from the previous year, maintaining its growth momentum for more than 10 years. Latin America and Africa, achieving annual growth of 6.5% and 10.1%, respectively, also drove global beer consumption in 2010.

The increase in beer consumption in Latin America was driven by strong demand in Brazil, where 16.0% more beer was consumed in 2010 than in 2009. In Africa, the increase in beer consumption came primarily from South America and Nigeria, which recorded annual growth rates of 4.7% and 17.2%, respectively.

In Europe, 2.4% less beer was consumed in 2010 than in 2009. All European countries that made the top 25 list of the world's largest beer-consuming countries recorded a decrease in annual beer consumption, with the exception of Ukraine, where 5.5% more beer was consumed in 2010 than in 2009.

3. Per-Capita Beer Consumption by Country in 2010 (Table 3)

The Czech Republic led all other nations in per-capita beer consumption for the 18th consecutive year, although the country's per-capita beer consumption decreased by the equivalent of 21.1 633-milliliter bottles in 2010 from the previous year. Among the top 35 countries ranked by per-capita beer consumption, eight saw an increase in consumption from 2009 to 2010. Japan—which consumed 45.4 liters, or the equivalent of 71.7 633-milliliter bottles, of beer on a per-capita basis in 2010, more than any other country in Asia—saw a per-capita decline of the equivalent of 2.4 bottles compared with the previous year, and ranked 38th place.

Over the past 10 years, per-capita beer consumption has been increasing only in China.

• Note: Consumption volume in Japan is a combination of beer, low-malt beer, and no-malt beer.
• Note: Numbers for 2009 reflect the latest available data and may not be consistent with those published in the report for 2009.
• Source: Questionnaire surveys Kirin Institute of Food and Lifestyle conducted with brewers associations in major countries; The World Beer Market: The 2011 Survey published by the ERC Group; and The Barth Report Hops 2010/2011 published by the BARTH-HAAS Group

Table 1: Global Beer Consumption by Country in 2010

Comments

• Despite a weak economy, beer consumption increased by 2.4% to 182.69 million kiloliters globally in 2010 compared with 2009, marking the 25th consecutive annual increase.
• China recorded a 5.9% annual increase in beer consumption in 2010 and remained the largest beer-consuming country in the world for the eighth consecutive year since 2003. China's beer-drinking population has been growing mainly in urban areas, driven by population growth in general and higher living standards resulting from a booming economy.
• In Brazil, although the cooler-than-normal temperature dampened some consumer demand for beer, annual beer consumption jumped 16.0% in 2010 from the previous year, fueled by increasing per-capita income that reflected robust economic growth and by population growth. Televised World Cup soccer games also stimulated beer consumption in Brazil.
• While per-capita beer consumption remained small in India, the total volume of its beer consumption has been increasing over the past few years, helped by economic growth, an increase in the number of retailers selling beer, an expanding distribution network around the country, and foreign beer companies starting beer production in India. The country recorded a 17.0% annual increase in beer consumption in 2010.
• Beer consumption in Russia decreased by 6.2% in 2010 from the previous year, affected by a stagnant economy and tax increases, and Russia became the only BRICs country that recorded a decrease in beer consumption in 2010.
• Japan maintained its global ranking in annual beer consumption in 2010. It consumed 2.8% less beer than in 2009, affected by the low birthrate and the aging of the population as well as by changing consumer taste in beverages.

Table 2: Global Beer Consumption by Region in 2010

• Note: Consumption volume in Japan is a combination of beer, low-malt beer, and no-malt beer.

Comments

• Annual beer consumption in Asia has maintained its growth momentum for more than 10 years, and increased by 5.3% in 2010 from the year before; Asia took a larger share (33.6%) of the global market in 2010 than in 2009. While beer consumption in Europe and North American decreased by 2.4% and 1.4%, respectively, from 2009 to 2010, consumption in Latin America and Africa increased by 6.5% and 10.1%, respectively. Global beer consumption was driven by strong demand in developing countries.
• The growth of beer consumption in Asia continued to be driven primarily by China, Vietnam, and India, where annual beer consumption increased by 5.9%, 15.0%, and 17.0%, respectively, from 2009. Japan and Thailand were the only Asian countries whose annual beer consumption recorded a year-on-year decline in 2010—declines of 2.8% in Japan and 2.7% in Thailand.
• In Europe, 2.4% less beer was consumed in 2010 than in 2009; all European countries that made the top 25 list of the world's largest beer-consuming countries recorded a decrease in annual beer consumption, with the exception of Ukraine, where 5.5% more beer was consumed in 2010 than in 2009. Beer consumption in Russia, the largest beer-consuming country in Europe, was down 6.2% in 2010 compared with the year before—a decline of two years in a row, reversing a growth trend that began in 1998.
• In Latin America, beer consumption in 2010 was up 6.5% from the previous year; a substantial increase of 16.0% in Brazil more than offset the decrease in other major beer-consuming countries in the region, such as Mexico (down 2.0%) and Venezuela (down 2.0%).

Table 3: Per-Capita Beer Consumption by Country in 2010

Comments

• The Czech Republic led all other nations in per-capita beer consumption for the 18th consecutive year, although the country's per-capita beer consumption plunged by the equivalent of 21.1 633-milliliter bottles in 2010 from the previous year.
• Among the top 35 countries ranked by per-capita beer consumption, eight saw an increase in consumption from 2009 to 2010, compared with seven a year earlier.
  
• Over the past 10 years, per-capita beer consumption has been increasing only in China, where it grew by 80% from 2001 to 2010.