This list reveals the top 10 beer importers based on their percentage of global import purchases (shown within parenthesis). In 2017, world beer imports totaled US$15 billion.
African Importers
Africa imported $430.1 million worth of beer led by the following countries:
1. South Africa: $95.2 million
2. Equatorial Guinea: $35.9 million
3. Botswana: $31.6 million
4. Algeria: $28.3 million
5. Cameroon: $20 million
6. Zambia: $19.8 million
7. Democratic Rep. Congo: $18.6 million
8. Mozambique: $17.7 million
9. Tanzania: $16.3 million
10. Namibia: $13.1 million
Asian Importers
Asia imported $1.9 billion worth of beer led by the following countries:
1. China: $750.4 million
2. South Korea: $263.1 million
3. Taiwan: $191.9 million
4. Singapore: $150.2 million
5. Hong Kong: $122.5 million
6. Malaysia: $82.4 million
7. Japan: $60.4 million
8. Cambodia: $52.8 million
9. Kazakhstan: $31.8 million
10. Vietnam: $30.3 million
European Union (EU) Importers
European Union imported $4.5 billion worth of beer led by the following EU members:
1. France: $830.2 million
2. United Kingdom: $628.2 million
3. Italy: $585.5 million
4. Germany: $496.5 million
5. Netherlands: $405.1 million
6. Spain: $308.8 million
7. Belgium: $201.8 million
8. Ireland: $186.8 million
9. Sweden: $129.2 million
10. Austria: $75.3 million
Latin American and Caribbean Importers
Latin America (excluding Mexico) and the Caribbean imported $842.8 million worth of beer led by the following countries:
1. Chile: $205 million
2. Paraguay: $139.3 million
3. Colombia: $84 million
4. Argentina: $58 million
5. Cuba: $46.8 million
6. Guatemala: $42.1 million
7. Honduras: $34 million
8. Brazil: $31.5 million
9. Dominican Republic: $25 million
10. Panama: $23.5 million
Middle Eastern Importers
Middle East imported $233.9 million worth of beer led by the following countries:
1. United Arab Emirates: $95.3 million
2. Israel: $58.7 million
3. Iraq: $29.1 million
4. Bahrain: $15.7 million
5. Lebanon: $11.1 million
6. Qatar: $9.7 million
7. Oman: $9.5 million
8. Syrian Arab Republic: $3.2 million
9. Jordan: $1.1 million
10. Kuwait: $471,000
North American Importers
North America imported $6.1 billion worth of beer led by the following countries:
1. United States: $5.3 billion
2. Canada: $571.9 million
3. Mexico: $188.5 million
Oceanian Importers
Oceania imported $382.8 million worth of beer led by the following countries:
1. Australia: $289.3 million
2. New Zealand: $59.4 million
3. Papua New Guinea: $12.4 million
4. Solomon Islands: $9.4 million
5. Palau: $3.2 million
6. Cook Islands: $2 million
7. Micronesia: $1.5 million
8. Fiji: $1.02 million
9. Tonga: $1.01 million
10. French Polynesia: $899,000
To see the 25 fastest-growing beer importers from 2013 to 2017, use the slidebar on the accompanying list. Overall, the 5-year percentage gain for globally imported beer was 15.4%.
Data source: Trade Map, International Trade Centre, www.intracen.org/marketanalysis
Top Beer Importers 2017
Fastest-Growing Beer Import Countries
Research Note: Import numbers rarely match the source exporters’ stats. Reasons for import-export statistical discrepancies include re-exports, time lags, misallocations, distinct trade reporting systems, different quantity measurements and country confidentiality rules. Also, transportation and insurance costs are sometimes added to import totals.
