FRANKFURT, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- Germany's beer sales fell to about 7.8 billion liters in 2025, down 6.0 percent compared with the previous year, as weak consumer sentiment weighed on demand, data released Monday by the country's Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) showed.
The office said the decline marked the steepest year-on-year drop since records began in 1993, with sales falling below 8 billion liters for the first time.
The statistics covered annual sales by German breweries and beer warehouses both at home and abroad, excluding non-alcoholic beers, malt beverages, and beer imported from countries outside the European Union.
Domestic sales fell by 5.8 percent year on year, while exports declined by 7.0 percent. The German Brewers Association (DBB) cited the weak consumer climate as one of the main reasons for the downturn.
"Breweries are also feeling the impact of consumers' strong reluctance to spend," DBB Managing Director Holger Eichele said in a statement on Monday. He added that the hospitality sector remains in a worrying condition, with many businesses yet to recover from the pandemic.
The industry association said 2026 is also expected to be a very challenging year for the entire beverage and food industry and called for more decisive political action, particularly in energy policy and in reducing bureaucracy.
"Breweries are energy-intensive businesses. Strongly fluctuating prices, unclear support conditions, and a lack of long-term planning certainty significantly hinder investments in efficiency, climate protection, and innovation," Eichele said.
According to DBB statistics, non-alcoholic beers are the fastest-growing segment of the German beer market. In 2025, non-alcoholic beers and beer-based mixed drinks exceeded the 10 percent threshold in retail turnover for the first time.
The association said the trend highlights the innovative capacity and adaptability of the German brewing industry, as well as the continued overall appeal of German beer culture.
