Beer serves Europe and the rest of the world: EU sector’s renaissance continues
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Brussels 30 November 2017. With EU beer production rising above 40 billion litres for the first time since the economic crisis, The Brewers of Europe confirm that the growth trend continues for the EU beer sector at the 7th Beer Serves Europe event.
A successful mix of world-leading multinationals, deeply-rooted regional breweries, and thriving SMEs, Europe’s breweries support the delivery of Europe’s 2020 Growth Strategy and contribute significantly to trade with the rest of the world.
Addressing the Annual General Assembly of The Brewers of Europe following Beer Serves Europe VII, Vice-President of the European Commission Jyrki Katainen commented on the competitiveness, innovation and investment in the European Brewing sector and its contribution to job creation and trade.
“Just the number of jobs created by beer in Europe – 2.3 million jobs at the last time of counting – is a testament to how beer can help create growth and prosperity in Europe as a whole”, said Pavlos Photiades, President of The Brewers of Europe.
Dimiter Tzantchev, Bulgarian Ambassador to the EU said “European brewers are a valuable stakeholder in the promotion of high technological, environmental, social and health standards in society". He also highlighted the brewers’ commitments to marketing self-regulation, public awareness campaigns against drink-driving and the provision of consumer information.
- 20 micro-breweries open every week in Europe.
- There are now 8,500 breweries across the EU. 1,000 were launched in the past year alone.
- Germany, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom are the largest producers of beer in the EU.
- Supportive policies enable brewers to continue contributing to the overall competitiveness of the European economy and sustained growth.
- 8.6 billion litres of beer brewed within the EU is exported abroad.
- Exports represent one fifth of EU beer production, one third of which leaves the EU.
- The top three countries for Europe’s brewers are the US, China and Canada, but over the past twenty years Europe’s brewers have extended beer trade to 123 countries around the world.
- Beer exports were particularly important from Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands in 2016.
- Beer adds €50bn, annually to EU output and over €42bn in tax revenues for governments.