Overview

• Hop prices have plummeted by up to 90% over the past two years, severely impacting German hop farmers' profitability.
• Germany, the world's leading hop producer, may lose 2,000 to 3,000 hectares of hop-growing land out of its total 20,000 hectares in the coming years, according to industry leaders.
• Declining global beer consumption, miscalculations by major breweries, and the effects of climate change are cited as major contributing factors to the crisis.
• While the 2024 hop harvest was above average, surplus production of alpha acids, a key hop component, has led to oversupply and further price drops.
• Farmers are exploring long-term solutions, including water-saving irrigation projects and adapting hop varieties to withstand climate change, but many family-run farms may still shut down.