EU alcoholic beverage exports reach US$34.7B in 2024, led by wine and spirits 

EU – The European Union (EU) recorded a 10.9% increase in the value of exported alcoholic beverages in 2024, reaching €29.8 billion (US$34.7B) compared to €26.9 billion (US$31.3B) in 2019, according to Eurostat, the statistical office of the EU. 

Wine of fresh grapes, including fortified wines, accounted for the largest share of exports at 56.2% (€16.8 billion) of the total. Spirits and liqueurs ranked second, representing 29.7% (€8.9 billion), followed by beer at 11.5% (€3.4 billion).  

Other categories included cider, perry, mead, saké, and other fermented beverages at 1.7% (€0.5 billion), and vermouth or other wines flavoured with plants or aromatics at 1.0% (€0.3 billion). 

France was the EU’s top exporter of alcoholic beverages to non-EU countries, recording €12.1 billion in exports, or 41% of the total. Of this, wine made up 66.7% (€8.1 billion) and spirits and liqueurs 31.8% (€3.8 billion).  

Italy ranked second with €6.0 billion (20% of the total), with wine exports accounting for 81.1% (€4.9 billion). Spain and the Netherlands followed, each contributing 8% of total exports at €2.5 billion and €2.3 billion, respectively.  

Spain’s primary export was wine (€1.6 billion), while the Netherlands led in beer exports (€1.3 billion). 

The United States was the primary destination for EU alcoholic beverages, importing €8.9 billion (30% of the total). Wine accounted for €4.9 billion of this figure, with spirits and liqueurs at €2.9 billion.  

The United Kingdom ranked second at €4.9 billion (17% of the total), with 68% (€3.3 billion) tied to wine exports. China and Canada followed with €1.6 billion each, while Switzerland imported €1.4 billion.  

Wine dominated exports to Canada and Switzerland, while spirits and liqueurs were the top category exported to China (€0.7 billion, 45%), followed by wine (€0.5 billion, 34%). 

In terms of production, EU countries produced 32.7 billion litres of beer containing more than 0.5% alcohol and 2 billion litres of low or non-alcoholic beer in 2024, totalling 34.7 billion litres.  

Compared with 2023, beer with more than 0.5% alcohol rose by 0.6% (+0.2 billion litres), while low or non-alcoholic beer production increased by 11.1% (+0.2 billion litres). 

Germany remained the EU’s largest beer producer, with 7.2 billion litres (22.2% of the total), matching its 2023 output. Spain followed with 4.0 billion litres (12.3%), and Poland with 3.4 billion litres (10.6%). The Netherlands produced 2.2 billion litres (6.8%), and Belgium 2.1 billion litres (6.3%), rounding out the top five producers. 

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