Year over year, purchases of globally imported beer rose 9.7% compared to $15.7 billion for 2020.
The 5 biggest buyers of imported beer are the United States of America, France, mainland China, United Kingdom, and Italy. Combined, that leading quintet bought 56.5% worth of beer imported during 2021.
From a continental perspective, countries in North America accounted for the highest dollar worth of imported beer during 2021 with purchases costing $7.04 billion or 41.1% of the global total. In second place were European importers at 36.1% while another 11.5% of beer imported worldwide was delivered to customers in Asia.
Smaller percentages arrived in Latin America (6.5%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Africa (3%), then Oceania (1.8%) led by Australia and New Zealand.
For research purposes, the 4-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix is 2203 for beer.
Top 15 Beer Importers by Country
Below are the 15 countries that spent the most on imported beer during 2021.
- United States: US$6.6 billion (38.5% of total beer imports)
- France: $1 billion (6%)
- China: $710.5 million (4.1%)
- United Kingdom: $691 million (4%)
- Italy: $660 million (3.8%)
- Netherlands: $574.1 million (3.3%)
- Germany: $468.1 million (2.7%)
- Russia: $415.3 million (2.4%)
- Spain: $381.6 million (2.2%)
- Canada: $380.3 million (2.2%)
- Chile: $272.1 million (1.6%)
- Ireland: $236 million (1.4%)
- Australia: $228.6 million (1.3%)
- Taiwan: $226.2 million (1.3%)
- South Korea: $223.1 million (1.3%)
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing markets for beer since 2020 were: Chile (up 66.8%), Netherlands (up 17.8%), Italy (up 14.3%) and Russia (up 12.4%).
Four major buyers posted declines in their imported beer purchases namely Ireland (down -17.2%), Canada (down -13.9%), Australia (down -11.9%) and South Korea (down -1.7%).
By value, the listed 15 countries purchased over three-quarters (76.3%) of all beer imported in 2021.
Beer Imported into the United States of America
America’s global purchases of imported beer totaled US$6.6 billion in 2021. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which the US imported the highest dollar value worth of beer during 2021. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2020 to 2021.
- Mexico: US$5 billion (up 17.1% from 2020)
- Netherlands: $798.9 million (down -7.3%)
- Belgium: $242.7 million (down -33.3%)
- Ireland: $181.6 million (up 5.2%)
- Canada: $103.2 million (up 0.05%)
- Germany: $92.9 million (up 20.3%)
- Poland: $42.3 million (up 300.1%)
- Italy: $36.9 million (up 38.6%)
- Jamaica: $24.3 million (up 23.7%)
- United Kingdom: $15.2 million (up 1.7%)
- Austria: $13.7 million (up 125.4%)
- Vietnam: $13.3 million (up 57%)
- Czech Republic: $12.6 million (up 40.4%)
- Japan: $7.9 million (up 57.5%)
- South Korea: $7 million (up 83.6%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 99.1% of beer imported by the United States of America in 2021.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of beer to the United States from 2020 to 2021 were: Poland (up 300.1%), Austria (up 125.4%), South Korea (up 83.6%) and Japan (up 57.5%).
A pair of major providers experienced declines in the value of their beer supplied to American importers namely Belgium (down -33.3%) and the Netherlands (down -7.3%).
Overall, the value of America’s imported beer rose by an average 10.9% from all supplying countries from 2020 to 2021 when beer purchased cost $6 billion.
Beer Imported into France
France’s global purchases of imported beer totaled US$1.031 billion in 2021. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which France imported the highest dollar value worth of beer during 2021. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2020 to 2021.
- Belgium: US$625.3 million (down -8.1% from 2020)
- Netherlands: $179.7 million (up 7%)
- United Kingdom: $57.6 million (up 79.1%)
- Germany: $49.3 million (up 4.2%)
- Portugal: $21.6 million (up 4.1%)
- France: $19.1 million (up 516.1%)
- Ireland: $10.7 million (down -42.7%)
- Italy: $9.2 million (up 14%)
- Poland: $8.6 million (down -27.3%)
- China: $6 million (up 71.6%)
- Spain: $5.3 million (up 9.5%)
- United States: $4.2 million (down -33.6%)
- Denmark: $3.9 million (up 31.4%)
- Thailand: $24 million (up 53.9%)
- Czech Republic: $22 million (up 42.8%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 97.4% of beer imported by France in 2021.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of beer to France from 2020 to 2021 were: France (up 516.1%), United Kingdom (up 79.1%), China (up 71.6%) and Thailand (up 53.9%).
Countries that experienced declines in the value of their beer supplied to French importers were: Ireland (down -42.7%), United States (down -33.6%), Poland (down -27.3%) and Belgium (down -8.1%).
Overall, the value of France’s imported beer rose by an average 0.1% from all supplying countries from 2020 to 2021 when beer purchased cost $1.03 billion.
Beer Imported into China
China’s global purchases of imported beer totaled US$710.5 million in 2021. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which China imported the highest dollar value worth of beer during 2021. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2020 to 2021.
- Germany: US$146.4 million (up 3.2% from 2020)
- Belgium: $118.6 million (up 2.4%)
- Mexico: $80.1 million (up 3%)
- France: $79.2 million (up 19.9%)
- Spain: $53.1 million (up 34.2%)
- Netherlands: $42.2 million (down -23.5%)
- Russia: $26.4 million (up 51%)
- United Kingdom: $18.9 million (down -31.2%)
- Ukraine: $17.8 million (up 170.1%)
- Italy: $14 million (up 49.7%)
- United States: $13.8 million (up 6.5%)
- Poland: $13.3 million (down -38.5%)
- Portugal: $12.6 million (down -20.2%)
- Japan: $12.1 million (up 15%)
- Ireland: $10.6 million (up 103.8%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 92.8% of beer imported by mainland China in 2021.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of beer to China from 2020 to 2021 were: Ukraine (up 170.1%), Ireland (up 103.8%), Russia (up 51%) and Italy (up 49.7%).
Four major exporters experienced declines in the value of their beer supplied to Chinese importers namely Poland (down -38.5%), United Kingdom (down -31.2%), Netherlands (down -23.5%) and Portugal (down -20.2%).
Overall, the value of China’s imported beer increased by an average 2.2% from all supplying countries from 2020 to 2021 when beer purchased cost $695 million.
Beer Imported into the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom’s global purchases of imported beer totaled US$691 million in 2021. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which the UK imported the highest dollar value worth of beer during 2021. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2020 to 2021.
- Netherlands: US$121.5 million (up 10.1% from 2020)
- Italy: $114.1 million (up 35.5%)
- Ireland: $112.4 million (down -8%)
- Spain: $86.4 million (up 36.3%)
- Belgium: $62.8 million (up 38.1%)
- Germany: $51 million (down -11.9%)
- France: $39.1 million (down -22%)
- Mexico: $37.1 million (down -49.8%)
- United States: $10.5 million (down -29.6%)
- Czech Republic: $10.1 million (down -16.1%)
- Thailand: $6.3 million (up 75.9%)
- Portugal: $5.4 million (up 22.5%)
- Poland: $4.7 million (down -4.8%)
- Nigeria: $4.3 million (down -3.8%)
- Turkey: $4.2 million (up 33.2%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 96.9% of beer imported by the United Kingdom in 2021.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of beer to Britain from 2020 to 2021 were: Thailand (up 75.9%), Belgium (up 38.1%), Spain (up 36.3%) and Italy (up 35.5%).
Countries that experienced declines in the value of their beer supplied to British importers included: Mexico (down -49.8%), United States of America (down -29.6%), France (down -22%) and Czech Republic (down -16.1%).
Overall, the value of United Kingdom’s imported beer went up by an average 2.4% from all supplying countries from 2020 to 2021 when beer purchased cost $674.7 million.
Searchable List of Beer Importer Countries in 2021
The 100 major importers of ale from international markets accounted for 98.4% of beer imported worldwide during 2021.
| Rank | Importer | Beer Imports | 2020-1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | United States | $6,626,085,000 | +10.9% |
| 2. | France | $1,031,230,000 | +0.1% |
| 3. | China | $710,495,000 | +2.2% |
| 4. | United Kingdom | $690,955,000 | +2.4% |
| 5. | Italy | $660,042,000 | +14.3% |
| 6. | Netherlands | $574,124,000 | +17.8% |
| 7. | Germany | $468,051,000 | +1% |
| 8. | Russia | $415,251,000 | +12.4% |
| 9. | Spain | $381,617,000 | +12.1% |
| 10. | Canada | $380,344,000 | -13.9% |
| 11. | Chile | $272,056,000 | +66.8% |
| 12. | Ireland | $235,977,000 | -17.2% |
| 13. | Australia | $228,562,000 | -11.9% |
| 14. | Taiwan | $226,236,000 | +10.2% |
| 15. | South Korea | $223,100,000 | -1.7% |
| 16. | Belgium | $171,906,000 | -0.8% |
| 17. | United Arab Emirates | $156,569,000 | +108.1% |
| 18. | Paraguay | $154,156,000 | +33.8% |
| 19. | South Africa | $143,398,000 | +27.7% |
| 20. | Sweden | $124,106,000 | -8.1% |
| 21. | Switzerland | $116,208,000 | -1% |
| 22. | Hong Kong | $114,948,000 | -0.1% |
| 23. | Singapore | $113,666,000 | +0.9% |
| 24. | Guatemala | $92,304,000 | +36.3% |
| 25. | Hungary | $88,222,000 | +12.9% |
| 26. | Panama | $87,868,000 | +48.9% |
| 27. | Israel | $85,097,000 | +19.2% |
| 28. | Honduras | $84,572,000 | +92.4% |
| 29. | Slovakia | $78,241,000 | -6.7% |
| 30. | Poland | $77,520,000 | -0.3% |
| 31. | Denmark | $75,902,000 | +23.6% |
| 32. | Ukraine | $70,807,000 | +5.5% |
| 33. | Bosnia/Herzegovina | $70,657,000 | +16.1% |
| 34. | Austria | $69,569,000 | +9.7% |
| 35. | New Zealand | $66,117,000 | +5% |
| 36. | Japan | $63,165,000 | +7.6% |
| 37. | Croatia | $63,041,000 | +19.5% |
| 38. | Dominican Republic | $60,823,000 | +165% |
| 39. | Bulgaria | $60,294,000 | +12.2% |
| 40. | Portugal | $59,419,000 | +11.1% |
| 41. | Norway | $57,821,000 | +15.1% |
| 42. | Belarus | $57,032,000 | -8.5% |
| 43. | Romania | $53,894,000 | +10.8% |
| 44. | Luxembourg | $51,012,000 | +21.9% |
| 45. | Peru | $50,957,000 | +96% |
| 46. | Latvia | $46,745,000 | -15.9% |
| 47. | Lithuania | $42,031,000 | +7.3% |
| 48. | Finland | $41,396,000 | +1.8% |
| 49. | Iraq | $40,544,000 | +25.5% |
| 50. | Colombia | $37,382,000 | +49.8% |
| 51. | Zambia | $35,988,000 | +55.4% |
| 52. | Kazakhstan | $35,447,000 | +37.8% |
| 53. | Mexico | $35,433,000 | -8.1% |
| 54. | Costa Rica | $33,944,000 | +40.3% |
| 55. | Equatorial Guinea | $32,941,000 | +9.8% |
| 56. | Czech Republic | $32,647,000 | +9.5% |
| 57. | Slovenia | $31,538,000 | +5.5% |
| 58. | Greece | $28,585,000 | +11.6% |
| 59. | Cuba | $27,823,000 | -5.4% |
| 60. | Serbia | $27,600,000 | +33.9% |
| 61. | El Salvador | $26,136,000 | +69.4% |
| 62. | Malaysia | $25,655,000 | -4.5% |
| 63. | Vietnam | $25,524,000 | +257.7% |
| 64. | Estonia | $24,486,000 | +16.6% |
| 65. | Ecuador | $24,446,000 | +24.3% |
| 66. | Albania | $22,891,000 | +54.9% |
| 67. | Uruguay | $22,843,000 | +4% |
| 68. | Bolivia, Plurinational State of | $22,100,000 | +46.9% |
| 69. | Curaçao | $21,633,000 | +36.7% |
| 70. | Thailand | $19,310,000 | +18.3% |
| 71. | Ivory Coast | $18,571,000 | +193.1% |
| 72. | Moldova | $17,540,000 | +24.3% |
| 73. | Andorra | $17,435,000 | +30.7% |
| 74. | Belize | $17,363,000 | +41.7% |
| 75. | Morocco | $16,884,000 | +85.2% |
| 76. | Bahrain | $16,590,000 | -21.2% |
| 77. | Tanzania | $16,313,000 | +14.4% |
| 78. | Macao | $16,285,000 | -11.5% |
| 79. | Brazil | $15,763,000 | +3.3% |
| 80. | South Sudan | $15,734,000 | -31.9% |
| 81. | Botswana | $15,658,000 | -57.1% |
| 82. | Senegal | $15,545,000 | +21.4% |
| 83. | Turkey | $14,991,000 | +22.1% |
| 84. | Cyprus | $14,436,000 | +23.1% |
| 85. | Mongolia | $14,296,000 | +162.3% |
| 86. | Argentina | $13,769,000 | -44.5% |
| 87. | Ghana | $13,607,000 | +61.6% |
| 88. | Mozambique | $13,301,000 | -15.9% |
| 89. | Eswatini | $12,711,000 | +102.7% |
| 90. | Uganda | $12,705,000 | +23.8% |
| 91. | Dem. Rep. Congo | $12,098,000 | +189.8% |
| 92. | Cameroon | $11,553,000 | +92.6% |
| 93. | Montenegro | $11,032,000 | +36.3% |
| 94. | Oman | $10,987,000 | +19.6% |
| 95. | Iceland | $10,982,000 | +12.7% |
| 96. | Lesotho | $10,859,000 | +20.7% |
| 97. | Bahamas | $10,652,000 | +43.6% |
| 98. | Guinea | $10,625,000 | +16.3% |
| 99. | Cabo Verde | $10,367,000 | +16.5% |
| 100. | Guinea-Bissau | $10,121,000 | +38.1% |
Focusing the top 100 most valuable importers of beer, the fastest-growing buyers of imported beer from 2020 to 2021 are Vietnam (up 257.7%), Ivory Coast (up 193.1%), Democratic Republic of the Congo (up 189.8%), Dominican Republic (up 165%), Mongolia (up 162.3%), United Arab Emirates (up 108.1%), Eswatini (up 102.7%), then Peru (up 96%).
You can change the presentation order by clicking the triangle icon at the top of any of the above table’s columns. An entry of 0% in the right-most column means that 2021 data was unavailable.
Related Read: US Imported Beer Ranked by Suppliers & Average Prices
See also Beer Exports by Country, America’s Top Trading Partners and France’s Top 10 Imports
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on August 25, 2022
Forbes Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on August 25, 2022
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on August 25, 2022
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on August 25, 2022
