The German beer market loses 85 million liters due to the prolonged drop in consumption
Non-alcoholic beer grows 6.5% to exceed 616 million liters.
Monday, September 21, 2026
The German beer market lost 85 million liters between January and June 2016 compared to the same period the previous year. The decline, representing a 2.2% drop according to figures from the Deutscher Brauer-Bund, the industry association, continues a downward trend that began in previous years.
The decline is also evident in per capita consumption. In 2025, each resident of Germany drank an average of 84 liters of beer, compared to 91 liters in 2019. That's 7 liters less, equivalent to a 7.7% drop in six years. If the comparison is made with 1976, when consumption reached 151 liters per person, the decrease is 67 liters, or 44.4%. The data shows that this is not a one-off adjustment, but rather a prolonged reduction in domestic consumption.
The lower demand is already being felt in revenue. German breweries earned around €8.7 billion in 2025, compared to just over €9 billion in 2024. Based on this, the loss exceeds €300 million in a single year. This figure reflects that selling less volume is having a direct impact on the sector's cash flow.
Not all categories evolve at the same rate. Non-alcoholic beer was the exception in 2025, increasing by 6.5% to over 616 million liters. Based on the rounded volumes provided by the industry association, this growth equates to approximately 38 million liters more than the previous year. The gap between this category and the rest of the market accurately reflects the current state of the industry: overall consumption is falling, but a segment of the market continues to gain ground.
The German brewers' association estimates that around 140 breweries have closed in the last six years. This reduction in the number of companies points to a structural shift in a country historically linked to beer. At the same time, some breweries that remain open are using their spare capacity to brew beer on commission for foreign brands.
This type of contract manufacturing is a common solution when a brewery has available production lines and less demand of its own. It allows for the distribution of industrial costs and the utilization of existing facilities, but it also reveals that the German market no longer absorbs the full volume that its breweries previously produced.