In 2020, Belgian beer exports to European countries saw a growth of over 3 percent, despite the challenges faced by the brewing industry in southern Europe due to the pandemic. However, exports outside of Europe experienced a decline of more than 18 percent. The increase in European exports is largely due to sales in supermarkets, while exports to the UK rose due to stockpiling before Brexit. Despite the overall decrease in beer consumption in Belgium, which was 19 percent lower, the beer industry remains optimistic, attributing it to the resilience of the 'Belgian beer' brand and the gradual reopening of the catering industry. The recovery of the industry depends on various factors, including relaxations, virus variants, weather conditions, and whether a return to 2019 levels is possible by 2022.