Drinks: Russia throws Germany from the top 5 of the brewers

After many years at the top, Germany no longer fell from the top 5 European champions in beer brewing and worldwide. Last year, Russia overtook the Federal Republic, as can be seen from the current industry report by the world’s largest hop dealer Barthhaas in Nuremberg. China remains in front of the USA worldwide number one.

According to Heinrich Meier, who wrote the report, the crucial reason for the change at the European top is that beer production in Russia increased by around 9 percent to 9.1 billion liters. In Germany, on the other hand, it fell by one percent to 8.4 billion liters. Five years ago, Germany had certified a lead of around 1.4 billion liters, which had recently been melted.

Compared to the number one worldwide and two, all the small numbers are: According to the report, China came to a good 34 billion liters, the USA at a good 18 billion – both declines had to accept around 5 percent. Also more beer than Russia and Germany produced Brazil and Mexico in 2024 with 14.7 and 14.5 billion liters. Worldwide production fell minimally to 187.5 billion liters.

The brewery landscape in Germany is comparatively small. The largest local company, the Radeberger Group, is only in 23th place worldwide. In addition, there are many small breweries that fight with high costs. In addition, there has been a rather declining trend in beer consumption in Germany for a long time. After all, another descent in the global ranking is hardly to be expected in the coming years: Germany is almost four billion liters ahead of number seven, Japan.

Germany is ahead of hops

In contrast, Germany is the reigning world champion in the production of hops – one of the three traditional ingredients for beer. According to Barthhaas, 46,536 tons were harvested in this country in 2024, the USA as the currently global number two came to 39,995 tons. The last developments in the acreage indicate that this could remain so at the harvest in the current year.