Exports grow as world gets taste for British beer

In total, 1.15 billion pints were exported in 2013, with notable growth in exports to Russia (+45%), Brazil (+37%) and China (+15%).

The figures have been revealed as the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) and National Association of Cidermakers, working with Government agency UK Trade and Investment, formally publish a new strategy to grow beer and cider exports in 2014 and 2015.

The strategy aims to deliver sustainable growth to the British beer and cider industry by, boost exports and reduce trade barriers.

British beer exports are currently worth £629m to the UK and exports outside the EU have grown by 46.2% in volume since 2008 and 69.4% by value.

Opportunities​

BBPA chief executive Brigid Simmonds said: “Britain produces some of the finest beers; many in styles unique to these shores.  It is an iconic product produced by a world class industry, with real opportunities for export growth which this strategy will help to deliver.

“Rising British exports are key to economic recovery and beer clearly has an important part to play.”

Michael Campbell-Lamerton, export manager at Fuller’s, said he backed the new strategy. “We have had continued success at Fuller’s with our export business in recent years riding on the growing global interest in traditional, imported ‘craft’ beer.

“As a long standing exporter of British beer I fully support the renewed initiative from the BBPA and UKTI to promote British beer internationally.”

A key plank of the strategy will be organising trade visits to the UK for overseas buyers, a number of which will be attending the Beer X festival in Sheffield next week, organised by the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA).