Overview

• Beer sales fell below 4 billion liters in the first half of 2025, a 6.3 percent decline to the weakest six-month volume on record
• Domestic consumption dropped 6.1 percent to 3.2 billion liters, while exports plunged 7.1 percent amid softer demand in EU and non-EU markets
• Rising energy, raw material and logistics costs have forced multiple breweries into insolvency and limited their ability to raise prices
• The non-alcoholic beer segment grew 8.0 percent to 220.8 million liters but still represents just 5.6 percent of total sales
• The Deutscher Brauerei-Bund warns that demographic shifts and a struggling restaurant sector are deepening the industry’s downturn