From a continental perspective, countries in North America accounted for the highest dollar worth of imported beer during 2018 with purchases costing $6.3 billion or 38.8% of the global total. In second place were European importers at 35.6% while 14.6% of beer imported worldwide was delivered to customers in Asia. Smaller percentages arrived in Latin America (5.4%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Africa (2.7%) and Oceania (2.4%) led by Australia.
The 4-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix is 2203 for beer.
Beer Imports by Country
Top 15
Below are the 15 countries that spent the most on imported beer during 2018.
- United States: US$5.6 billion (34.2% of total beer imports)
- France: $980.8 million (6%)
- China: $904.4 million (5.5%)
- United Kingdom: $726.7 million (4.4%)
- Italy: $674.7 million (4.1%)
- Canada: $556.5 million (3.4%)
- Germany: $518.6 million (3.2%)
- Netherlands: $445.8 million (2.7%)
- Spain: $334.3 million (2%)
- Australia: $315.3 million (1.9%)
- South Korea: $309.7 million (1.9%)
- Russia: $287.4 million (1.8%)
- Chile: $211.9 million (1.3%)
- Mexico: $203.3 million (1.2%)
- Ireland: $198.3 million (1.2%)
By value, the listed 15 countries purchased three-quarters (75%) of all beer imported in 2018. Within parenthesis is the percentage of overall beer shipments for each importer.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing markets for beer since 2014 were: South Korea (up 177.4%), China (up 122.2%), Russia (up 43.9%) and France (up 42.7%).
Three countries posted declines in their imported beer purchases namely: Germany (down -18.3%), Canada (down -6.9%) and Australia (down -2.9%).
US
Beer Imported into the United States
America’s global purchases of imported beer totaled US$5.6 billion in 2018. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which the US imported the highest dollar value worth of beer during 2018. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country since 2014.
- Mexico: US$3.7 billion (up 46.8% from 2014)
- Netherlands: $813.4 million (down -2.4%)
- Belgium: $345.9 million (down -0.6%)
- Ireland: $213.9 million (up 50%)
- Canada: $120.3 million (down -27.2%)
- Germany: $113.8 million (up 20.5%)
- Dominican Republic: $89.4 million (up 670.2%)
- Jamaica: $26.7 million (up 1,283%)
- United Kingdom: $23.9 million (down -75.9%)
- Italy: $23.7 million (down -13.8%)
- Poland: $11.8 million (up 5.6%)
- Vietnam: $9.8 million (up 2,314%)
- Czech Republic: $9.6 million (up 2.5%)
- Japan: $9.5 million (up 28.3%)
- China: $7.2 million (down -20.8%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 98.8% of United States’ beer imported in 2017.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of beer to United States since 2014 were: Vietnam (up 2,314%), Jamaica (up 1,283%), Dominican Republic (up 670.2%) and Ireland (up 50%).
Countries that experienced declines in the value of their beer supplied to American importers included: United Kingdom (down -75.9%), Canada (down -27.2%), China (down -20.8%) and Italy (down -13.8%).
Overall, the value of United States’ beer imports rose by an average 28.4% from all supplying countries since 2014 when beer purchases were valued at $4.3 billion.
France
Beer Imported into France
France’s global purchases of imported beer totaled US$980.8 million in 2018. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which France imported the highest dollar value worth of beer during 2018. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country since 2014.
- Belgium: US$583.3 million (up 72.8% from 2014)
- Netherlands: $169.6 million (up 21.9%)
- Germany: $67.9 million (down -32.8%)
- Portugal: $29 million (up 33.7%)
- United Kingdom: $26.6 million (up 71.6%)
- Mexico: $21.2 million (up 213.4%)
- Ireland: $20.3 million (up 33.6%)
- United States: $10.3 million (up 648%)
- Italy: $10.2 million (up 37.5%)
- China: $5.9 million (up 2%)
- Spain: $5.2 million (down -35.3%)
- Denmark: $3.7 million (down -30.8%)
- Czech Republic: $3.5 million (down -13.4%)
- Luxembourg: $2.1 million (up 308.2%)
- Thailand: $2 million (up 36.5%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 98% of France’s beer imported in 2018.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of beer to France since 2014 were: United States (up 648%), Luxembourg (up 308.2%), Mexico (up 213.4%) and Belgium (up 72.8%).
Four countries experienced declines in the value of their beer supplied to French importers namely: Spain (down -35.3%), Germany (down -32.8%), Denmark (down -30.8%) and Czech Republic (down -13.4%).
Overall, the value of France’s beer imports expanded by an average 42.7% from all supplying countries since 2014 when beer purchases were valued at $687.2 million.
China
Beer Imported into China
China’s global purchases of imported beer totaled US$904.3 million in 2018. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which China imported the highest dollar value worth of beer during 2018. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country since 2014.
- Mexico: US$251.4 million (up 1,612% from 2014)
- Germany: $190.7 million (down -2.2%)
- South Korea: $91.1 million (up 583.3%)
- Belgium: $74.2 million (up 148.9%)
- Spain: $54.9 million (up 295.8%)
- Netherlands: $46.4 million (down -38.7%)
- France: $42.9 million (up 66.9%)
- Portugal: $40.3 million (up 3,016%)
- United Kingdom: $27.2 million (up 781.3%)
- Russia: $26.8 million (up 722.6%)
- United States: $12.7 million (up 27.3%)
- Ireland: $6.5 million (up 52.9%)
- Italy: $4.6 million (up 470.1%)
- Denmark: $4.1 million (up 61.7%)
- Japan: $3.4 million (up 1,363%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 97% of China’s beer imported in 2018.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of beer to China since 2014 were: Portugal (up 3,016%), Mexico (up 1,612%), Japan (up 1,363%) and United Kingdom (up 781.3%).
Two countries experienced declines in the value of their beer supplied to Chinese importers namely Netherlands (down -38.7%) and Germany (down -2.2%).
Overall, the value of China’s beer imports increased by an average 122.2% from all supplying countries since 2014 when beer purchases were valued at $407 million.
UK
Beer Imported into the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom’s global purchases of imported beer totaled US$726.7 million in 2018. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which the UK imported the highest dollar value worth of beer during 2018. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country since 2014.
- Mexico: US$156.6 million (up 153.5% from 2014)
- Ireland: $125.4 million (down -18.8%)
- Netherlands: $86.3 million (down -31.6%)
- Italy: $68.2 million (down -9.3%)
- Spain: $62.6 million (up 663.6%)
- France: $60.1 million (down -13.7%)
- Germany: $41.1 million (down -20.9%)
- United States: $35.2 million (up 110.1%)
- Belgium: $31.8 million (down -17.9%)
- Czech Republic: $11.4 million (down -3.1%)
- Poland: $7 million (up 58.5%)
- Thailand: $6 million (down -6.8%)
- China: $5.2 million (down -3.2%)
- Portugal: $4.6 million (down -7.1%)
- Nigeria: $4 million (down -36%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 97.1% of United Kingdom’s beer imported in 2018.
Four among the above countries grew their supplies of beer to United Kingdom since 2014 namely: Spain (up 663.6%), Mexico (up 153.5%), United States (up 110.1%) and Poland (up 58.5%).
Countries that experienced declines in the value of their beer supplied to UK importers included: Nigeria (down -36.0%), Netherlands (down -31.6%), Germany (down -20.9%) and Ireland (down -18.8%).
Overall, the value of United Kingdom’s beer imports increased by an average 5.6% from all supplying countries since 2014 when beer purchases were valued at $688.2 million.
Searchable List of Beer Importer Countries in 2018
You can change the presentation order by clicking the triangle icon at the top of any of the columns below.
| Rank | Importer | Beer Imports (US$) | %World Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | United States | $5.6 billion | 34.2% |
| 2. | France | $980.8 million | 6% |
| 3. | China | $904.4 million | 5.5% |
| 4. | United Kingdom | $726.7 million | 4.4% |
| 5. | Italy | $674.7 million | 4.1% |
| 6. | Canada | $556.5 million | 3.4% |
| 7. | Germany | $518.6 million | 3.2% |
| 8. | Netherlands | $445.8 million | 2.7% |
| 9. | Spain | $334.3 million | 2% |
| 10. | Australia | $315.3 million | 1.9% |
| 11. | South Korea | $309.7 million | 1.9% |
| 12. | Russia | $287.4 million | 1.8% |
| 13. | Chile | $211.9 million | 1.3% |
| 14. | Mexico | $203.3 million | 1.2% |
| 15. | Ireland | $198.3 million | 1.2% |
| 16. | Belgium | $197.8 million | 1.2% |
| 17. | Taiwan | $186.9 million | 1.1% |
| 18. | South Africa | $160 million | 1% |
| 19. | Singapore | $139.4 million | 0.9% |
| 20. | Paraguay | $138.6 million | 0.8% |
| 21. | Sweden | $138.3 million | 0.8% |
| 22. | Hong Kong | $125.7 million | 0.8% |
| 23. | Switzerland | $116.9 million | 0.7% |
| 24. | United Arab Emirates | $113.9 million | 0.7% |
| 25. | Slovakia | $102.9 million | 0.6% |
| 26. | Colombia | $99.5 million | 0.6% |
| 27. | Austria | $92.4 million | 0.6% |
| 28. | Myanmar (Burma) | $76.8 million | 0.5% |
| 29. | Bosnia/Herzegovina | $75.5 million | 0.5% |
| 30. | Poland | $69.3 million | 0.4% |
| 31. | New Zealand | $64.6 million | 0.4% |
| 32. | Denmark | $62.7 million | 0.4% |
| 33. | Israel | $62.5 million | 0.4% |
| 34. | Hungary | $62.4 million | 0.4% |
| 35. | Guatemala | $60.8 million | 0.4% |
| 36. | Malaysia | $58.1 million | 0.4% |
| 37. | Argentina | $57.9 million | 0.4% |
| 38. | Latvia | $56.3 million | 0.3% |
| 39. | Japan | $55.2 million | 0.3% |
| 40. | Portugal | $53.7 million | 0.3% |
| 41. | Croatia | $51.5 million | 0.3% |
| 42. | Ukraine | $51.2 million | 0.3% |
| 43. | Belarus | $49 million | 0.3% |
| 44. | Vietnam | $46.9 million | 0.3% |
| 45. | Norway | $46.6 million | 0.3% |
| 46. | Brazil | $46.1 million | 0.3% |
| 47. | Finland | $43.3 million | 0.3% |
| 48. | Honduras | $42.5 million | 0.3% |
| 49. | Romania | $41 million | 0.3% |
| 50. | Luxembourg | $40.9 million | 0.3% |
| 51. | Iraq | $39.4 million | 0.2% |
| 52. | Kazakhstan | $37 million | 0.2% |
| 53. | Bulgaria | $36.1 million | 0.2% |
| 54. | Lithuania | $34.2 million | 0.2% |
| 55. | Slovenia | $33.7 million | 0.2% |
| 56. | Cuba | $33.2 million | 0.2% |
| 57. | Greece | $32.6 million | 0.2% |
| 58. | Mozambique | $32.4 million | 0.2% |
| 59. | Equatorial Guinea | $31.1 million | 0.2% |
| 60. | Cambodia | $30.5 million | 0.2% |
| 61. | Panama | $29.7 million | 0.2% |
| 62. | Dominican Republic | $23.1 million | 0.1% |
| 63. | Zambia | $22.9 million | 0.1% |
| 64. | Uruguay | $21.5 million | 0.1% |
| 65. | Macao | $21.3 million | 0.1% |
| 66. | Estonia | $21.2 million | 0.1% |
| 67. | Czech Republic | $21 million | 0.1% |
| 68. | Bahrain | $18.7 million | 0.1% |
| 69. | Serbia | $18.5 million | 0.1% |
| 70. | Curaçao | $17.8 million | 0.1% |
| 71. | Thailand | $17.4 million | 0.1% |
| 72. | Albania | $16.9 million | 0.1% |
| 73. | Peru | $16.6 million | 0.1% |
| 74. | Andorra | $15 million | 0.1% |
| 75. | Cyprus | $14.7 million | 0.1% |
| 76. | Turkey | $14.5 million | 0.1% |
| 77. | Moldova | $14.5 million | 0.1% |
| 78. | Tanzania | $14.4 million | 0.1% |
| 79. | Costa Rica | $14.4 million | 0.1% |
| 80. | El Salvador | $13.5 million | 0.1% |
| 81. | Ivory Coast | $13 million | 0.1% |
| 82. | India | $12.6 million | 0.1% |
| 83. | Lebanon | $12.5 million | 0.1% |
| 84. | Bolivia | $12.3 million | 0.1% |
| 85. | Democr. Rep. Congo | $11.4 million | 0.1% |
| 86. | North Korea | $11.3 million | 0.1% |
| 87. | Algeria | $11.2 million | 0.1% |
| 88. | Georgia | $11.1 million | 0.1% |
| 89. | Ecuador | $10.7 million | 0.1% |
| 90. | Malta | $10 million | 0.1% |
| 91. | Cabo Verde | $9.5 million | 0.1% |
| 92. | Botswana | $9.5 million | 0.1% |
| 93. | Iceland | $9.4 million | 0.1% |
| 94. | Aruba | $9.4 million | 0.1% |
| 95. | Montenegro | $9.1 million | 0.1% |
| 96. | Eswatini | $9 million | 0.1% |
| 97. | Senegal | $8.9 million | 0.1% |
| 98. | Oman | $8.7 million | 0.1% |
| 99. | Uzbekistan | $8.6 million | 0.1% |
| 100. | Guinea | $8.6 million | 0.1% |
| 101. | Qatar | $8.3 million | 0.1% |
| 102. | Lesotho | $7.9 million | 0.05% |
| 103. | Gabon | $7.6 million | 0.05% |
| 104. | Kenya | $7.6 million | 0.05% |
| 105. | Morocco | $7.1 million | 0.04% |
| 106. | Bermuda | $7 million | 0.04% |
| 107. | St Maarten (Dutch) | $6.7 million | 0.04% |
| 108. | Uganda | $6.4 million | 0.04% |
| 109. | Sudan | $6.3 million | 0.04% |
| 110. | US Minor Outlying Is | $6.3 million | 0.04% |
| 111. | Namibia | $6.2 million | 0.04% |
| 112. | Guinea-Bissau | $6.1 million | 0.04% |
| 113. | Belize | $5.8 million | 0.04% |
| 114. | Azerbaijan | $5.6 million | 0.03% |
| 115. | North Macedonia | $5.5 million | 0.03% |
| 116. | Kyrgyzstan | $5.4 million | 0.03% |
| 117. | Suriname | $5.4 million | 0.03% |
| 118. | Guyana | $5.3 million | 0.03% |
| 119. | Mali | $5.3 million | 0.03% |
| 120. | Cameroon | $5.2 million | 0.03% |
| 121. | Greenland | $5.1 million | 0.03% |
| 122. | Philippines | $5 million | 0.03% |
| 123. | Laos | $4.9 million | 0.03% |
| 124. | Liberia | $4.9 million | 0.03% |
| 125. | Cayman Islands | $4.8 million | 0.03% |
| 126. | Bonaire/St Eustatius/Saba | $4.8 million | 0.03% |
| 127. | Mongolia | $4.7 million | 0.03% |
| 128. | Trinidad/Tobago | $4.3 million | 0.03% |
| 129. | Tajikistan | $3.6 million | 0.02% |
| 130. | Syria | $3.4 million | 0.02% |
| 131. | British Virgin Islands | $3.3 million | 0.02% |
| 132. | Armenia | $3.2 million | 0.02% |
| 133. | Ghana | $3.2 million | 0.02% |
| 134. | Bahamas | $3.2 million | 0.02% |
| 135. | Seychelles | $3.2 million | 0.02% |
| 136. | Saudi Arabia | $3.1 million | 0.02% |
| 137. | Togo | $3.1 million | 0.02% |
| 138. | Barbados | $2.8 million | 0.02% |
| 139. | Angola | $2.8 million | 0.02% |
| 140. | Bangladesh | $2.8 million | 0.02% |
| 141. | Malawi | $2.7 million | 0.02% |
| 142. | Rwanda | $2.7 million | 0.02% |
| 143. | Indonesia | $2.7 million | 0.02% |
| 144. | Gibraltar | $2.2 million | 0.01% |
| 145. | Cook Islands | $2.1 million | 0.01% |
| 146. | Congo | $2 million | 0.01% |
| 147. | Turks/Caicos Islands | $2 million | 0.01% |
| 148. | Sri Lanka | $1.9 million | 0.01% |
| 149. | Niger | $1.9 million | 0.01% |
| 150. | Timor-Leste | $1.8 million | 0.01% |
| 151. | Maldives | $1.7 million | 0.01% |
| 152. | Palau | $1.7 million | 0.01% |
| 153. | Burkina Faso | $1.6 million | 0.01% |
| 154. | Sierra Leone | $1.5 million | 0.01% |
| 155. | Papua New Guinea | $1.5 million | 0.01% |
| 156. | Benin | $1.4 million | 0.01% |
| 157. | Micronesia | $1.3 million | 0.01% |
| 158. | Mauritius | $1.3 million | 0.01% |
| 159. | Djibouti | $1.3 million | 0.01% |
| 160. | Jordan | $1.2 million | 0.01% |
| 161. | Haiti | $1.2 million | 0.01% |
| 162. | Fiji | $1.1 million | 0.01% |
| 163. | French Polynesia | $1.1 million | 0.01% |
| 164. | Nicaragua | $974,000 | 0.01% |
| 165. | Antigua/Barbuda | $929,000 | 0.01% |
| 166. | Tonga | $899,000 | 0.01% |
| 167. | Zimbabwe | $816,000 | 0.005% |
| 168. | South Sudan | $809,000 | 0.005% |
| 169. | Kiribati | $770,000 | 0.005% |
| 170. | Falkland Is (Malvinas) | $755,000 | 0.005% |
| 171. | Madagascar | $707,000 | 0.004% |
| 172. | Sao Tome/Principe | $669,000 | 0.004% |
| 173. | Faroe Islands | $660,000 | 0.004% |
| 174. | Jamaica | $627,000 | 0.004% |
| 175. | Brunei Darussalam | $556,000 | 0.003% |
| 176. | Egypt | $512,000 | 0.003% |
| 177. | Bhutan | $497,000 | 0.003% |
| 178. | Afghanistan | $496,000 | 0.003% |
| 179. | Central African Rep | $496,000 | 0.003% |
| 180. | Guam | $455,000 | 0.003% |
| 181. | Anguilla | $422,000 | 0.003% |
| 182. | New Caledonia | $409,000 | 0.003% |
| 183. | Comoros | $372,000 | 0.002% |
| 184. | St. Pierre/Miquelon | $369,000 | 0.002% |
| 185. | Montserrat | $351,000 | 0.002% |
| 186. | Nepal | $333,000 | 0.002% |
| 187. | Turkmenistan | $303,000 | 0.002% |
| 188. | Marshall Islands | $296,000 | 0.002% |
| 189. | Saint Helena | $293,000 | 0.002% |
| 190. | Wallis/Futuna Is | $290,000 | 0.002% |
| 191. | Ethiopia | $283,000 | 0.002% |
| 192. | Northern Mariana Is | $250,000 | 0.002% |
| 193. | Kuwait | $237,000 | 0.001% |
| 194. | Palestine | $226,000 | 0.001% |
| 195. | Tunisia | $173,000 | 0.001% |
| 196. | Chad | $172,000 | 0.001% |
| 197. | Niue | $146,000 | 0.001% |
| 198. | Vanuatu | $138,000 | 0.001% |
| 199. | Samoa | $109,000 | 0.001% |
| 200. | Solomon Islands | $102,000 | 0.001% |
| 201. | Eritrea | $99,000 | 0.001% |
| 202. | Venezuela | $82,000 | 0.001% |
| 203. | Saint Kitts/Nevis | $76,000 | 0.0005% |
| 204. | Somalia | $69,000 | 0.0004% |
| 205. | Pakistan | $60,000 | 0.0004% |
| 206. | Iran | $54,000 | 0.0003% |
| 207. | French S./Antarctic Terr | $40,000 | 0.0002% |
| 208. | Tuvalu | $40,000 | 0.0002% |
| 209. | Saint Lucia | $32,000 | 0.0002% |
| 210. | Burundi | $32,000 | 0.0002% |
| 211. | Dominica | $30,000 | 0.0002% |
| 212. | American Samoa | $26,000 | 0.0002% |
| 213. | Mauritania | $17,000 | 0.0001% |
| 214. | Gambia | $12,000 | 0.0001% |
| 215. | Libya | $9,000 | 0.0001% |
| 216. | St Vincent/Grenadines | $7,000 | 0.00004% |
| 217. | Norfolk Island | $4,000 | 0.00002% |
| 218. | Grenada | $3,000 | 0.00002% |
| 219. | Pitcairn | $2,000 | 0.00001% |
| 220. | Nigeria | $1,000 | 0.00001% |
| 221. | Nauru | $1,000 | 0.00001% |
See also Beer Exports by Country, America’s Top Trading Partners and France’s Top 10 Imports
Research Sources:
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on May 13, 2019
The World Factbook, Field Listing: Imports – Commodities, Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed on May 13, 2019
Trade Map, International Trade Centre. Accessed on May 13, 2019