Spain recovers the second position in the EU in beer production

Spain has reclaimed the title as the second-largest beer-producing country in the EU, with a 7.85% increase in production to 41.1 million hectoliters in 2022, largely due to the recovery of the tourism industry. This surge in production has led to the creation of over 400,000 jobs, primarily in the hospitality sector, making Spain the second-largest employer in the EU beer industry after Germany. Additionally, beer exports in 2022 saw a significant 16.3% increase compared to 2021 and 36.8% compared to 2019. However, hospitality sector consumption has not yet fully recovered, remaining 4.1% below pre-pandemic levels. Despite these challenges, Spain remains the leading European market for beer, with 87% of the beer consumed being locally produced. Furthermore, the country faces challenges with rising beer prices, especially for blonde beer, which saw a 14.1% increase in 2022 and an additional 3.8% in 2023, and non-alcoholic or low-alcohol beers, which experienced a 14.2% increase in 2022 and 5.3% increase in 2023.