Alcoholic beer market in Zambia

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2023, the Zambian alcoholic beer market saw considerable fluctuations in total volume. After reaching a high of 336.3 million liters in 2020, market size contracted to 241.9 million liters in 2021, then gradually increased to 270.2 million liters by 2023. Domestic production, which had remained steady at 300 million liters in 2018 and 2019, rose to 325 million liters in 2020 but subsequently fell to 220 million liters in 2021 and further to 215.3 million liters in 2023.

Concurrently, beer imports into Zambia expanded dramatically, growing more than tenfold from 5.2 million liters in 2018 to 55.0 million liters in 2023. This trend continued into 2024, with imports reaching 72.9 million liters. With exports negligible, the rising import volumes increasingly supplemented domestic production, altering the market's supply composition.

Production alcoholic beer in Zambia

In kind, 2017-2020, M l

Top producers of alcoholic beer, 2017-2020

World map of production of alcoholic beer, 2017-2020

In 2020, Zambia produced 325.0 million liters of alcoholic beer, representing an 8.3% increase compared to the previous year. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 30%, which translates to an annualized growth rate of 9.1%. The largest decline occurred in 2019, with no change recorded. In contrast, the most significant increase was observed in 2018, when production rose by 20.0%.

Annual dynamics of production in Zambia in kind, 2017-2020, M l

Exports alcoholic beer from Zambia

Exports in kind, K l

The market exhibited considerable volatility during these years. Exports reached their lowest point in 2019 and peaked in 2020, showing a 24-fold difference between these two years. In 2020, Zambia exported 23 thousand liters of alcoholic beer, reflecting a dramatic increase of 2,347.9% over the previous year. The minimum export volume was recorded in 2019 at 1 thousand liters. The largest decline occurred in 2019, with a drop of 91.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Zambia in kind, 2017-2020, K l

From 2017 to 2020, South Africa and the Democratic Republic of the Congo consistently accounted for 90.2% of Zambia's total exports in volume, indicating a highly concentrated market structure with numerous smaller markets making up the remainder.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Zambia in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

The market showed an unstable trend throughout this period. Exports hit their lowest point in 2019 and peaked in 2020, with a 10.9-fold difference between these years. In 2020, the value of Zambia's alcoholic beer exports stood at 27 thousand US dollars, marking a substantial increase of 986.5% compared to 2019. The minimum value was recorded in 2019 at 2 thousand US dollars. The largest decline occurred in 2019, with a decrease of 84.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Zambia in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

During the 2017–2020 period, two markets—the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Africa—played leading roles in Zambia's exports by value, together accounting for 81.1% of total flows, while the rest was distributed among other destinations.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Zambia in value, 2017-2020

Imports alcoholic beer to Zambia

Imports in kind, K l

The market was characterized by volatility during these years. Import volumes varied 2.7 times, with the low point in 2019 and the high in 2020. In 2020, Zambia imported 11,344 thousand liters of alcoholic beer, showing a sharp rise of 172.9% from the previous year. The minimum import volume was recorded in 2019 at 4,157 thousand liters. The largest decline occurred in 2019, with a drop of 20.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Zambia in kind, 2017-2020, K l

From 2017 to 2020, the structure of Zambia's imports in volume was dominated by South Africa, which accounted for 76.7% of total flows, with a large number of minor partners making up the rest.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Zambia in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

After a two-year increase, cross-border shipments of alcoholic beer to Zambia declined. In 2020, the import volume came to 22,758 thousand US dollars, down by 24.0% year-on-year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports increased by 14.2%, with a compound annual growth rate of 4.5%. The maximum value was recorded in 2019 at 29,942 thousand US dollars. The largest increase occurred in 2019, with a rise of 28.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Zambia in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

From 2017 to 2020, South Africa remained the overwhelmingly dominant supplier of alcoholic beer to Zambia, accounting for 92.8% of total imports in value terms.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Zambia in value, 2017-2020