Brazil’s beer output rises 2.5% in 2025 as US production declines
Brazil produced 15.11 billion liters of beer in 2025, up 2.5% from 2024, according to the BarthHaas Report 2025/2026. The expansion supported South American output and offset much of a 5.2% decline in the United States, although Brazilian government data indicate a different domestic trend.
Brazil adds 368.5 million liters
Brazilian beer production increased by 2.5% in 2025 to 15.11 billion liters, according to the BarthHaas Report 2025/2026 cited by Guia da Cerveja. The result kept Brazil in third place among the world’s largest beer-producing countries, behind China at 35.36 billion liters and the United States at 17.49 billion liters.
Brazil produced 368.5 million liters more than in 2024, when output totaled 14.74 billion liters. The additional volume alone exceeded the entire annual production reported for Panama, at 340 million liters, and Paraguay, at 290 million liters.
The country accounted for more than 60% of South America’s total production of 24.7 billion liters. Its expansion secured regional growth of 1.7% and helped limit the decline across the Americas to 0.4%. The United States was the main drag, with production falling 5.2%, or 960 million liters.
Brazilian sources show conflicting trends
The BarthHaas estimate is close in absolute terms to the 15.68 billion liters reported in the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock’s Beer Yearbook 2026 for the same period. However, the two sources point in opposite directions: BarthHaas reports growth, while the ministry’s data indicate a decline of approximately 8% from 2024.
The difference reflects distinct methodologies. Brazilian breweries submit annual production and inventory declarations directly to the ministry. BarthHaas analyzes several sources and market balances and applies its own estimates when official figures differ or are unavailable. Both publications say historical figures may be revised when necessary, leaving market participants with two benchmarks for assessing Brazil’s 2025 performance.
Global output stabilizes as mature markets contract
Worldwide beer production fell 0.7% to 189.5 billion liters in 2025. Most continents recorded contractions, but Africa grew by 2.6%, supported by a 2.7% increase in South Africa. Excluding the United States, output in the Americas rose by 1.7%, highlighting the contribution of emerging producing markets.
Europe’s volume declined by 1.6%. Germany produced fewer than 80 million hectoliters for the first time, after a 5.6% year-on-year fall. China, the United States, Brazil, Mexico, Russia and Germany retained the first six positions in the country ranking. The United Kingdom moved into tenth place with almost 3.89 billion liters, overtaking South Africa. Together, the ten largest producing countries represented 61.4% of global output.
Brewers adjust portfolios and hop demand
The world’s 40 largest brewers sold a combined 158.6 billion liters in 2025. AB InBev remained the market leader with 48.4 billion liters, followed by Heineken and China Resources Snow Breweries. Russia’s JSC AB Inbev Efes entered the ranking as an independent company in 11th place, while Asahi expanded in Africa by acquiring Diageo’s interest in East African Breweries.
Lower beer output is also affecting agricultural suppliers. Global hop acreage fell 5.5% and the harvest contracted 3.8%, but supply still exceeded demand. BarthHaas estimated a surplus of about 1,200 tonnes of alpha acid, equivalent to 5,100 hectares of excess production capacity. The report linked the imbalance to weaker beer production and lower hop use in recipes. At the same time, alcohol-free beer expanded by 85% in the United States and 150% in Ireland, offering brewers a growing portfolio segment as conventional volumes soften.
