Russia took the first place in Europe in beer production, overtaking Germany

In 2024, Russia significantly increased beer production by more than 10% compared to the previous year. According to the latest international report BarthHaas Report 2024/25, such growth has allowed Russia to bypass Germany and enter the top five largest beer producers in the world for the first time. Domestic companies produced a total of about 908 million barrels of beer, while Germany showed a decrease in volumes to 839 million barrels. Experts attribute what is happening to the withdrawal of international brands from the Russian market, the expansion of local production and the reorientation to domestic demand.
The global market situation in 2024 was generally stable: the volume of global brewing production amounted to 1.875 billion hectoliters, which is only 0.3% lower than in 2023. However, against the background of general stagnation, Russia was among the few countries that showed significant growth. This is especially important against the background of sanctions pressure, reduced imports and the desire for food sovereignty. Analysts note that the growth of the Russian market was driven not only by an increase in domestic consumption, but also by increased export activity: in the first half of 2025 alone, Russian beer exports increased by 26% and reached 92 thousand tons worth $47 million.
The largest domestic producers, such as Baltika, have increased production volumes, and independent breweries have expanded their product lines with new varieties, including non-alcoholic and craft beers. Unlike Western markets, where there is a decrease in interest in traditional beer, Russia still maintains steady consumer demand.
If the current pace continues, Russian brewers can not only strengthen their positions in the domestic market, but also significantly increase exports. Experts do not rule out that in the next two years Russia may take a higher place in the global ranking. Thus, the growth of production and exports in 2024-2025 not only raises short-term indicators, but also reflects the systemic transformation of the entire beer industry in Russia.