Europe’s beer industry remains a major agri-food sector, but Eurostat data show a market undergoing gradual change. EU member states produced 34.4 billion liters of beer in 2025, with five countries accounting for more than 60% of total output.

Germany remained the bloc’s largest producer, while alcohol-free beer continued to gain ground. Traditional beer production edged down slightly as consumers increasingly opted for moderation and lower-alcohol alternatives.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

Germany Leads, Spain Strengthens Its Position

Germany continues to dominate EU beer production, while Spain remains second and is one of the few major markets still growing. According to the Socioeconomic Report on the Beer Sector in Spain 2025 by Cerveceros de España and the Ministry of Agriculture, Spanish production reached 41.5 million hectoliters, up 0.5% from 2024 and 5.1% from 2019.

Methodology explains some differences between the figures. Eurostat measures “production sold” under PRODCOM rules, while national industry bodies can use different accounting frameworks. Even so, both sets of figures show Spain as the EU’s second-largest beer producer and one of its few major growth markets.

For the Netherlands and Poland, Eurostat uses “own-account production” because total production sold is not published for confidentiality reasons.

What The 2025 Numbers Show

• Total EU beer production: 34.4 billion liters
• Change versus 2024: -0.7%
• Change versus 2020: +2.2%, above pre-pandemic levels
• Beer with alcohol above 0.5%: 32.3 billion liters
• Alcohol-free or low-alcohol beer below 0.5%: 2.1 billion liters

Alcohol-free beer now accounts for just over 6% of EU beer production, and its share has risen steadily as overall volumes remain broadly flat.

The Real Growth Engine Is Alcohol-Free Beer

Over the past four to five years, mainstream beer production has remained broadly stagnant while alcohol-free beer has continued to expand. The shift reflects changing health preferences, urban consumption habits and demand for alternatives to traditional alcoholic drinks.

International trade has weakened as well. European beer exports fell in 2025 to their lowest level since 2014.

In 2024, the Netherlands was the EU’s largest beer exporter at 1.5 billion liters, down 12% from 2023. Germany and Belgium followed with 1.4 billion liters each, while Czechia exported 600 million liters and Ireland 500 million.

Who Produces The Most 0.0 Beer — And Who Drinks It?

Production and consumption of alcohol-free beer are concentrated in different markets. Germany leads EU production, with its alcohol-free output nearly doubling over the past decade as brewers turned the category into a mainstream product.

Spain is the EU’s largest consumer of alcohol-free beer. According to the 2025 Spanish sector report, one in four alcohol-free beers consumed in the EU is drunk in Spain. Sales rose 4.6% year over year in 2025 to 3.3 million hectoliters, or 330 million liters. Alcohol-free beer now accounts for 14% of all beer consumed in Spain, a record share. Around 90% of alcohol-free beer drinkers in Spain also drink regular beer, suggesting the category is complementing rather than replacing conventional beer.

Market Curiosities That Put The Data In Context

• Czechia has the EU’s highest per-capita beer consumption, at around 190 liters per person annually. Austria, Poland, Ireland and Lithuania follow.
• Spain ranks around sixth, with about 95 liters per person per year.
• Spain is one of the few European markets where total beer production increased in 2025, supported by a strong hospitality sector and a drinking culture centered on moderation.
• The 0.0 segment has expanded every year for at least five years, supported by health-conscious consumers and demand for lower-alcohol alternatives.
• Beer consumption in France has overtaken wine for the first time, pointing to broader changes in European drinking habits.
• The five largest producers account for roughly 60% of EU output, while Belgium, Czechia and Ireland retain cultural influence beyond their production scale.

Europe’s beer industry is being reshaped rather than simply shrinking. Overall volumes remain relatively stable, while category mix and consumer preferences are becoming increasingly important to brewers’ growth strategies.