The sale of German beer in the first six months of this year has fallen to its lowest point in at least thirty years. Sales are under pressure both domestically and abroad.
According to the German statistical office Destatis, total sales in the first six months amounted to 3.9 billion liters, a decrease of more than 6 percent compared to a year earlier. That is the lowest level since the start of measurements in 1993. It is also the first time that less than 4 billion liters of German beer have been sold in six months.
Domestic sales fell by 6 percent. Exports saw a decrease of 7 percent. The contraction in Germany will particularly hurt German brewers. They sell more than four out of five beers within their own national borders.
The German brewers’ association says that the decline is partly due to weak consumer confidence, which means that less beer is drunk in the catering industry, for example. Well-known brewers such as Warsteiner, Paulaner, Krombacher and Bitburger are affiliated with the organization.