According to Eurostat, the European statistics service, Belgium maintains its position as Europe's second largest beer exporter, with a 17% share of total European beer exports in 2022.

This amounts to 1.6 billion litres of barley beer exported. The Netherlands still holds the top spot with 2.6 billion litres and a 27% share, while Germany follows in third place with 1.5 billion litres and 16%.

The export figures align with data from the sector umbrella organization Belgian Brewers, which reported 16.39 million hectolitres of beer exported in 2022. However, there has been a 5.5% decrease, marking the third consecutive decrease due to a focus on local production. One example is the beer giant AB InBev, which started brewing Stella Artois locally in the US since 2021. Despite the decline in exports, Belgian beer still accounted for 70.3% of production.

Belgian Brewers also reported a 7.5% increase in beer consumption within Belgium, reaching 6.93 million hectolitres. On the production front, Germany remains the largest beer producer in Europe, with 7.6 billion litres, representing over a fifth of the European beer production.

Belgium's strong presence in the European beer export market showcases the country's rich brewing tradition and highlights its significance in the global beer industry. As the country continues to adapt to changing market dynamics, local production and consumption play a crucial role in shaping the future of Belgium's beer landscape. Photo by Thomas Quine, Wikimedia commons.