US beer imports decline 23 percent in April 2020

USA | Beer imports in April, the first full month of lockdown, were 3.2 million hl. That is 23 percent or 946,000 hl below the same month last year, the Beer Institute, a trade body, reported on 4 June 2020.

Percentage-wise, Ireland and the United Kingdom saw the biggest losses (about 45 percent each) year-on-year, followed by Mexico (-28.5 percent) and Belgium (-26 percent). Among the top 10 importing countries, only the Netherlands saw an increase of 12 percent (19,000 hl).

In import volumes, though, Mexican beers took a hit of 850,000 hl beer over the same month last year, probably due to the Mexican government’s decision to shutter breweries in early April. This could lead to a shortfall in the US as there was a spike in off-premise beer sales since stay-at-home orders began in March. US beer sales of Modelo Especial sales were up 23 percent, Corona sales were up 15 percent and Dos Equis sales were up 13 percent for the four-week period ending 19 April, according to IRI.

Meanwhile, domestic beer sales to wholesalers declined to 15.8 million hl, from 16.6 million hl in April 2019, a drop of 4.9 percent.