Alcoholic beer market in Hungary

Earlier Report Observations

The Hungarian alcoholic beer market displayed significant volatility in both volume and value from 2018 to 2024. Market volume in physical terms reached its highest point at 711.3 M l in 2019, then contracted to 668.7 M l in 2020. A partial recovery followed in 2021, bringing volume to 684.6 M l, before a period of relative stability in 2022 at 677.8 M l. The market then experienced a pronounced decline in 2023, with volume falling to 610.4 M l, and a moderate recovery to 634.3 M l in 2024. Over the entire period, the total market volume decreased by approximately 8.3%.

In contrast, the market's value trajectory diverged notably from its volume path. After a slight decrease to $398.0 M US in 2019, value fell sharply to $344.0 M US in 2020. It rebounded to $375.7 M US in 2021, dipped slightly to $364.4 M US in 2022, and then surged dramatically by 28% to $466.6 M US in 2023 despite the concurrent volume drop. This value growth continued into 2024, reaching $478.8 M US, marking an overall 18.8% increase in market value from 2018, highlighting a significant shift in average price points or product mix.

Production alcoholic beer in Hungary

In value, 2018-2021, M $ US

Hungary's alcoholic beer production value rebounded after two years of contraction. In 2021, output reached 311.0 million US dollars, marking a modest 9.0% increase compared to the previous year. Over the 2018-2021 period, production declined by 11.4%, with an average annual decrease of 3.9%. The lowest value was recorded in 2020 at 285.5 million US dollars, which also saw the largest decline of 15.3%.

Annual dynamics of production in Hungary in value, 2018-2021, M $ US

In kind, 2018-2021, M l

Top producers of alcoholic beer, 2018-2021

World map of production of alcoholic beer, 2018-2021

Hungary's alcoholic beer production volume recovered following a two-year decline. In 2021, the country produced 546.6 million liters, representing a 2.9% year-over-year increase. Between 2018 and 2021, production fell by 7.2%, equivalent to an average annual decline of 2.4%. The lowest volume was recorded in 2020 at 531.1 million liters, which experienced the largest drop of 7.5%.

Annual dynamics of production in Hungary in kind, 2018-2021, M l

Exports alcoholic beer from Hungary

Exports in kind, M l

Hungary's alcoholic beer exports grew for the second consecutive year. In 2021, exports reached 55.4 million liters, showing a 12.6% increase compared to the previous year. Over the 2018-2021 period, exports rose by 5.8%, with an average annual growth rate of 1.9%. The lowest export volume was recorded in 2019 at 45.5 million liters, which saw the largest decline of 13.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Hungary in kind, 2018-2021, M l

From 2018 to 2021, Slovakia (25.4% of exports in volume), Czechia (21.3%), and Croatia (17.5%) remained the top buyers of Hungarian alcoholic beer, collectively accounting for 64.2% of total export volume.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's exports from Hungary in kind, 2018-2021

Exports in value, K $ US

Hungary's alcoholic beer export value increased for the second year in a row. In 2021, exports totaled 23 574 thousand US dollars, up 20.1% year-over-year. Between 2018 and 2021, export value grew by 41%, with an average annual increase of 12.1%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 15 679 thousand US dollars, which experienced a 6.3% decline. The largest increase occurred in 2020, with a 25.2% rise.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Hungary in value, 2018-2021, K $ US

From 2018 to 2021, Czechia (23.0% of export value), Croatia (18.2%), and Slovakia (18.1%) continued to lead as the main buyers of Hungarian alcoholic beer, together representing 59.3% of total export value.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's exports from Hungary in value, 2018-2021

Imports alcoholic beer to Hungary

Imports in kind, M l

Hungary's alcoholic beer imports expanded for the third consecutive year. In 2021, imports reached 193.4 million liters, a 3.5% increase compared to 2020. Over the 2018-2021 period, imports grew by 24.3%, with an average annual growth rate of 7.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Hungary in kind, 2018-2021, M l

Throughout 2018-2021, Poland (39.2% of import volume), Czechia (18.6%), and Germany (7.9%) were the leading sources of alcoholic beer imports to Hungary, collectively accounting for 65.8% of total import volume.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's imports to Hungary in kind, 2018-2021

Imports in value, K $ US

Hungary's alcoholic beer import value rose for the third year in a row. In 2021, imports reached 88 252 thousand US dollars, up 13.0% compared to 2020. Between 2018 and 2021, import value increased by 28.2%, with an average annual growth rate of 8.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Hungary in value, 2018-2021, K $ US

Throughout 2018-2021, Poland (28.6% of import value), Czechia (17.6%), and Germany (10.0%) formed the core of Hungary's alcoholic beer imports by value, together representing 56.2% of total import value.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's imports to Hungary in value, 2018-2021