The beer sector is growing in Spain

Cerveceros de España, the national association that brings together the country’s main brewing companies, has published its socioeconomic report for the 2018 financial year. The trend is positive for all stakeholders. Ninety percent of the beer consumed in Spain is also produced within our borders. This translates into the beer sector accounting for 1.3% of the gross domestic product.

As for consumption, it has increased and now exceeds 40 million hectoliters, 1.5% more than in 2017. In this regard, the per capita average stands at 52 liters per year, still below the European average. Unlike other countries, in Spain beer consumption is moderate, usually accompanied by food and enjoyed in a social context. A sign of these traits is that 2 out of every 3 beers we drink are consumed outside the home. Hospitality is the main channel. It is also worth noting that Spain remains the European leader in non-alcoholic beer consumption. This healthier variety accounts for 13% of total consumption.

As for sales during the 2018 fiscal year, Spanish breweries sold 36 million hectoliters, 1.4% more than in 2017. Of these sales, more than half are made through the HORECA channel (hotels, restaurants, and cafés). In fact, Andalusia and Extremadura are the regions that sell the most beer, partly thanks to tourism. What’s undeniable is that the bulk of sales is concentrated in the warmer months. But which format sells the most? Glass bottles lead with 40%. The rest is split between cans and kegs in similar percentages. Of all containers, 45% are reusable.

In terms of production, Spanish breweries produced 38.4 million hectoliters of beer, 2.2% more beer than in 2017. Of this total, three companies (Mahou-San Miguel, Heineken and Damm) account for 88% of production. Within Europe, Spain is the fourth-largest producer by volume thanks to its 538 breweries, 18 more than in 2017.

If we look at the figures, we can see the growth of the Spanish beer sector over the last year. It would be reasonable to expect the numbers to increase in 2019. We should point out the “sluggishness” when it comes to creating new breweries. Fewer and fewer new microbreweries are appearing. On the other hand, many are staying in business and increasing their production volumes. This phenomenon translates into the consolidation of the sector.