Beer Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity and Forecast, By Type (Ale, Lager, Lambic), By Production (Macro Brewery, Micro Brewery, Craft Brewery), By Packaging (Bottles, Cans), By Category (Alcoholic, Non-Alcoholic), By End User (Residential, Commercial), By Region & Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 861.21 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	5.27%
Fastest Growing Segment	Ale
Largest Market	Europe
Market Size (2031)	USD 1172.02 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Beer Market will grow from USD 861.21 Billion in 2025 to USD 1172.02 Billion by 2031 at a 5.27% CAGR. Beer is defined as a fermented alcoholic beverage produced principally from malted cereal grains, hops, yeast, and water, serving as a staple in social and culinary contexts worldwide. The global market’s expansion is fundamentally supported by rising disposable incomes in developing economies and rapid urbanization, which significantly enhances the reach of modern distribution networks. Furthermore, the broadening social acceptance of alcohol consumption across various demographics acts as a primary commercial driver, fostering consistent demand distinct from shifting consumer flavor preferences.

Despite these strengths, the sector confronts a significant challenge in the form of intensifying regulatory frameworks and escalating excise taxation which impede volume expansion. High tax burdens frequently suppress consumer purchasing power and limit manufacturer margins, particularly in established markets. Highlighting this pressure on volume, according to The Brewers of Europe, in 2024, beer production within the European Union declined to approximately 345 million hectolitres. Consequently, industry stakeholders must navigate these fiscal complexities to sustain market viability.

Key Market Drivers

The Growing Preference for Low-Alcohol and Non-Alcoholic Alternatives is rapidly reshaping the competitive landscape of the global beer sector. Health-conscious consumers are shifting away from traditional high-alcohol content beverages, prompting major manufacturers to diversify their portfolios with sophisticated zero-proof formulations that mimic traditional flavor profiles. This shift is not merely a niche trend but a significant revenue generator, as functional attributes and lifestyle alignment become as critical as taste in driving consumption volume. This momentum is quantitatively evident in the performance of market leaders who have prioritized this category. According to Heineken N.V., February 2025, in the 'Full Year 2024 Results', the volume of the company’s flagship non-alcoholic brand, Heineken 0.0, grew by 10% globally, reinforcing the brand's leadership in the non-alcoholic segment.

Simultaneously, the Escalating Consumer Demand for Premium and Super-Premium Products serves as a critical buffer against volume stagnation in mass-market segments. Consumers are increasingly adopting a "drink less, but better" philosophy, prioritizing high-quality ingredients, heritage, and artisanal brewing methods over price accessibility. This premiumization strategy allows producers to protect margins despite the rising input costs and regulatory pressures facing the broader industry. Validating this structural shift, according to the Carlsberg Group, February 2025, in the 'FY 2024 Financial Statement', their portfolio of international and local premium brands grew by 2% in volume, outperforming standard categories. The financial scale of the market these value-driven segments support remains immense; according to Anheuser-Busch InBev, in 2025, the company reported a total revenue of 59.77 billion USD for the full year 2024.

Download Free Sample Report

Key Market Challenges

The Global Beer Market faces substantial headwinds due to intensifying regulatory frameworks and escalating excise taxation. These fiscal and legislative pressures directly impede market volume expansion by artificially inflating the final retail price of products. As governments frequently target alcoholic beverages for revenue generation, the resulting tax burdens force manufacturers to either absorb the costs, thereby compressing their operating margins, or pass them on to consumers. When prices rise, price-sensitive consumers often reduce their overall consumption or down-trade to cheaper alternatives, effectively shrinking the addressable market volume for established brewers.

This fiscal pressure has led to a demonstrable contraction in industry performance. According to the Beer Institute, in 2025, total taxable removals of beer in the United States declined by 5.0% year-to-date through October compared to the previous year. Such data underscores how high excise duties and regulatory constraints directly correlate with reduced shipment volumes, forcing stakeholders to operate in a constricting environment where sustaining volume growth becomes increasingly difficult despite underlying social demand.

Key Market Trends

The Widespread Adoption of Sustainable Brewing and Eco-Friendly Packaging is fundamentally restructuring the industry's supply chain as manufacturers prioritize circular economy principles to mitigate environmental impact. Producers are aggressively transitioning toward materials that minimize waste, such as aluminum with high recycled content, while simultaneously optimizing resource efficiency in production facilities. This operational pivot is driven by both regulatory mandates and consumer demand for responsible corporate stewardship, forcing stakeholders to adopt verifiable sustainability metrics. Highlighting this commitment to material circularity, according to Ball Corporation, March 2025, in the '2024 Combined Annual & Sustainability Report', the company achieved a global beverage packaging average of 74% recycled content, demonstrating the scale at which key industry enablers are executing sustainability targets.

The Expansion of Direct-to-Consumer Sales and Online Beer Retailing is establishing a potent parallel distribution channel that bypasses traditional intermediaries to engage digital-native demographics. By leveraging proprietary apps and e-commerce platforms, breweries can secure higher profit margins and harvest granular first-party data to refine marketing strategies, effectively transforming how they interact with their customer base. This digital route-to-market has evolved from a niche capability into a substantial revenue stream for major conglomerates, reducing reliance on conventional on-trade and off-trade outlets. Quantifying this growth, according to Anheuser-Busch InBev, February 2025, in the '2024 Full-Year Results', the company’s direct-to-consumer ecosystem generated 1.4 billion USD in revenue for the fiscal year, marking a 9% increase compared to the previous year.

Segmental Insights

The Ale segment is currently identified as the fastest-growing category within the Global Beer Market, driven significantly by the rising global demand for craft beer. Consumers are increasingly shifting their preferences away from conventional lagers toward ales, which offer a diverse range of distinct flavor profiles including fruity and malty notes. This trend is further supported by the proliferation of microbreweries, particularly in North America and Europe, which has improved product accessibility. Additionally, younger adult demographics are prioritizing flavor experimentation over price, thereby fueling the sustained expansion of this specific market segment.

Regional Insights

Europe maintains a dominant position in the global beer market, driven by a historically strong production base and sustained consumer demand in key countries like Germany and the United Kingdom. The region benefits from the presence of established multinational brewing companies that oversee extensive distribution networks. Additionally, regulatory frameworks enforced by the European Union ensure high product quality and standardize labeling, which fosters consumer trust and trade efficiency. This combination of manufacturing capacity and a favorable regulatory environment ensures Europe remains the leading regional market.

Recent Developments

• In August 2025, Asahi Group Holdings commenced the global rollout of its ready-to-drink brand, Asahi ZEITAKU SHIBORI, starting with a strategic launch in New Zealand. Previously sold only in Japan where it achieved record sales, the vodka-based beverage features a high fruit juice content and was adapted to suit local preferences in the Oceania market. This expansion was part of the company's strategic initiative to grow its "Beer Adjacent Categories" and leverage its expertise in alcohol innovation. By introducing this brand internationally, the group aimed to capitalize on the increasing consumer demand for premium, flavor-forward canned drinks outside its domestic market.
• In January 2025, Molson Coors Beverage Company established a strategic partnership with Fever-Tree to expand its non-alcoholic portfolio in the United States. Through this agreement, the brewer secured exclusive rights to manage the production, marketing, and distribution of the premium mixer brand's products across the country. To solidify this long-term collaboration, Molson Coors agreed to purchase an equity stake in the partner company for approximately £71 million ($88.3 million). This move aligned with the brewer's broader strategy to premiumize its offerings and extend its business beyond the traditional beer aisle into the growing total beverage category.
• In September 2024, Anheuser-Busch InBev announced the upcoming launch of a non-alcoholic variant of its popular Michelob Ultra brand to address the rising consumer demand for alcohol-free beverages. The new product, Michelob Ultra Zero, was designed to provide a refreshing option for those seeking moderation without compromising on the social experience of drinking beer. Scheduled for release across the United States in early 2025, this addition to the portfolio reflected the company's strategic focus on the low- and no-alcohol sector. The initiative highlighted the brewer's commitment to innovation and its responsiveness to evolving wellness trends in the global market.
• In July 2024, Carlsberg launched a unique lager developed in collaboration with Brooklyn Brewery, utilizing fonio, a drought-resistant grain from West Africa, as a complete substitute for barley. Created at the Carlsberg Research Laboratory, this innovation highlighted the potential of alternative brewing ingredients to address climate challenges. The limited-edition beer was introduced without bittering hops, offering a distinct flavor profile characterized by soft fruit aromas. This breakthrough demonstrated the company's commitment to sustainable brewing research and its "Brewing for Impact" campaign, which aims to explore resilient crops that can secure the future of beer production amidst changing environmental conditions.

Key Market Players

• Asahi Group Holdings, Ltd
• Carlsberg Breweries A/S
• Diageo Plc
• Heineken N.V.
• Saigon Beer-Alcohol-Beverage Corporation
• Platinum Beers
• Anheuser Busch Inc
• Devans Modern Breweries Limited
• Inbrew Beverages Private Limited
• United Breweries Ltd

By Type	By Production	By Packaging	By Category	By End User	By Region
Ale Lager Lambic	Macro Brewery Micro Brewery Craft Brewery	Bottles Cans	Alcoholic Non-Alcoholic	Residential Commercial	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Beer Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Beer Market, By Type:

• Ale
• Lager
• Lambic

• Beer Market, By Production:

• Macro Brewery
• Micro Brewery
• Craft Brewery

• Beer Market, By Packaging:

• Bottles
• Cans

• Beer Market, By Category:

• Alcoholic
• Non-Alcoholic

• Beer Market, By End User:

• Residential
• Commercial

• Beer Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE