And the volume of beer imported into the U.S. also declined – by 8% — in August. It was the first month of import volume declines in six months, Michael Uhrich, chief economist, Beer Institute said.
Belgium was the only country among the top five exporters to the U.S. to see its beer exports to the U.S. increase in August, he added. The others – Mexico, Netherlands, Canada and Ireland, each saw volumes decline.
Through August, beer imports are down 1.8%. That’s better than domestic beer sales, which are currently down 2.5% through August.
The volume of beer exported from the U.S. declined at double-digit rates for the ninth consecutive month in August. Most of the loss was from beers exported to Mexico. Uhrich noted that Mexican demand for American beer brands remains strong, but a “large percentage of these brands’ production has been moved to Mexico, which it is being produced locally rather than being imported from the U.S.