World Brewing Alliance publishes survey results on the impact of the beer sector on GDP in 140 countries

A new report commissioned by the World Brewing Alliance (WBA) has revealed that the beer sector contributed U$878 billion to global gross domestic product (GDP) in 2023.

The study, carried out by research house Oxford Economics, is the largest analysis ever undertaken on the economic impact of the brewing industry, covering data from 185 countries with detailed figures from 76 nations. According to the online report’s country breakdown, China led Asian countries in 2023 with a staggering total GDP contribution of the beer sector of US$145.5 billion. Other major Asian markets were India at US$10.6 billion; Japan at US$29.9 billion; South Korea at US$14.7 billion; Thailand at US$10.1 billion, and Vietnam at US$9.6 billion.

The research examines the industry’s entire value chain, from raw materials to the final beer product. While brewers generated only US$98 billion in direct GDP contribution, spending on inputs, wages, and processing beer sales boosted the total impact ninefold.

Downstream activities, including distribution, retail, and hospitality, accounted for US$499 billion, or 57%, of the overall GDP contribution.

The report also indicates that the beer sector supports 33 million jobs globally, representing one in every 100 jobs. These include 620,000 positions directly employed by brewers, 11.3 million jobs in the supply chain, and 21.2 million roles through downstream activities.

In addition, the brewing industry fuels economic activity in over 20 related sectors, such as agriculture, manufacturing, and logistics.

Tax contributions from the beer industry reached US$376 billion in 2023, while 86% percent of supplier spending occurs within the country where the beer is produced.

The report further highlights growth in low- and lower-middle-income countries, where the brewing industry’s GDP contribution increased by 27% and job creation grew by 24% since 2015.