China to boost beer consumption

The latest Global Beer Trends report from U.K. beverage researcher Canadean shows that global beer consumption will surpass two billion hectolitres by 2013. The report also predicts that by 2015, Asia, led by China, will account for 38 per cent of total worldwide beer consumption.

New growth regions

According to the report, global beer consumption will grow at an average rate of 2.8 per cent from 2009 to 2015. But growth will differ significantly across world markets. In both Asia and Africa beer consumption is forecast to grow by a compound average growth rate of five per cent during this period; in Latin America it is expected to jump by just over three per cent; and in the Middle East Canadean is predicting a compound average growth rate of 5.5 per cent.

However, in more mature beer markets consumption is expected to either decline or slow dramatically. In North America beer consumption should grow by a compound average growth rate of just 0.5 per cent; in Eastern Europe growth will be 1.5 per cent; while a marginal decline is expected in Western Europe. Countries expected to continue to see declines in beer consumption over this period include Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, France and the U.K.

China to lead increase

By 2015, Canadean expects Asia to account for 38 per cent of global beer consumption, with China comprising more than 25 per cent of worldwide consumption, or 573 million hectolitres. Other countries that are forecast to see double-digit growth over this period include Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Angola and India. Global average per capita consumption is expected to be 30 L by 2015.

According to the report, the world’s four largest brewers – Anheuser-Busch InBev, SABMiller, Heineken and Carlsberg – now account for 42 per cent of all beer sold globally.