Beer Sales in Germany Decline by 1.4 Percent in 2024
According to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), beer sales in Germany have decreased by 1.4 percent or 119.4 million liters compared to the previous year. German breweries and beer storage facilities sold a total of around 8.3 billion liters of beer in 2024. This long-term trend of declining sales continues, despite the European Football Championship held in the country in the summer.
The monthly beer sales also showed the usual seasonal pattern, with a significant increase in the spring and summer months, followed by a decline in the autumn and winter. Furthermore, the long-term trend of declining beer sales was confirmed, with a total of 13.7 percent or 1.3 billion liters less beer sold in 2024 compared to 2014.
In 2024, 82.3 percent of the beer sales were intended for the domestic market and were subject to taxation. The domestic sales decreased by 2.0 percent to 6.8 billion liters compared to 2023. On the other hand, 17.6 percent or 1.5 billion liters of beer were exported tax-free, an increase of 1.6 percent compared to 2023. Of these, 808.4 million liters (+3.1 percent) went to EU countries and 644.0 million liters (-0.3 percent) to non-EU countries. The breweries donated 10.6 million liters (-6.8 percent) of beer as a free-of-charge “Haustrunk” to their employees.
Beer mixes, consisting of beer mixed with lemonade, cola, fruit juices and other non-alcoholic additives, also showed a decline in sales in 2024, with a 4.6 percent decrease compared to the previous year. These made up 4.7 percent of the total beer sales, with 384.8 million liters sold in 2024.