Spain: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada announced recently that two-thirds of beer in Spain is consumed through the HRI sector. According to the same source, Spain has a large beer market valued at $3.3 billion (2002). Specialty beer sales account for over half of total beer sales in Spain, followed by lagers (38%), and ales and stout beers (7%). The beer market grew by 6% from 2001 to 2002 and is expected to continue to grow through to 2006. An increase in health awareness amongst consumers is becoming evident in alcoholic beverage consumption, as consumers are purchasing more alcoholic beverages that provide health benefits, such as red wine and beverages with lower alcohol content. This trend is apparent as the non-alcoholic beer market is growing in Spain, with consumption of non-alcoholic beer reaching 200 million litres in 2002.

In 2002, beer production totaled 2.5 million tonnes, but Spain still remains a net importer of beer. Spain is the third largest beer producer in the EU, and the ninth largest in the world, also producing most of its own inputs for beer, such as hops (1,200 tonnes in 2002). Average per capita consumption of beer was 75 litres in 2001, and 3.1 billion litres in total.

Spain produced 200 million litres of non-alcoholic beer in 2001, an increase of 9% from 2000. Consumption of non-alcoholic beer was 5 litres per capita in 2001, the highest consumption rate in the EU.

26 March, 2004