Germans are losing their appetite for beer – sales plummeted even further
Bad news for beer manufacturers: sales fell further in the first half of 2021. The German Brewers’ Association speaks of a disappointing result – and sounds the alarm.
Dhe sales of beer in Germany fell further in the first half of 2021. Increasing exports could not compensate for the domestic losses caused by the corona restrictions, as the Federal Statistical Office reported on Friday.
In total, the breweries and beer storage facilities located in Germany sold 4.2 billion liters of beer in the six months. That was 2.7 percent less than in the first half of the previous year. In Germany, 3.3 billion liters were sold, 4.9 percent less than in the same period of the previous year. In contrast, exports to the EU (+3.5 percent) and countries outside the Community (+11.9 percent) increased.
“Stuttering start in the hospitality industry”
Particularly strong declines in the total volume were observed in January (-27 percent) and February (-19.1 percent), in the comparison months of which in 2020 the restaurants, bars and hotels were still unaffected by the pandemic. Conversely, 11.2 percent more beer was sold in June of this year than in the previous month, which was still characterized by the first lockdown.
The German Brewers’ Association spoke of a disappointing result. “After seven months of lockdown, the reopening of outdoor and indoor restaurants has only started slowly. The stuttering start in the hospitality industry is having an impact on breweries and the draft beer business, ”explained the association in Berlin. Smaller breweries in particular are dependent on the catering and event business, where there are currently more cancellations.
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