Beer Industry Adds €576M to Greece Economy

The brewing manufacture successful Greece generated €576 cardinal successful nonstop and indirect added value for the nationalist system successful 2024, according to a caller study by the Foundation for Economic and Industrial Research (IOBE), highlighting some its economical value and the mounting challenges it faces.

The study outlines a assemblage under unit from rising accumulation costs, earthy worldly volatility linked successful portion to clime change, and shifting user behavior, adjacent arsenic innovation and the maturation of trade breweries reshape the market.

Output, depletion and marketplace trends

Beer accumulation successful Greece reached 4.31 cardinal hectolitres successful 2024, with astir 76 breweries presently operating successful the country, reflecting steady maturation successful small and autarkic producers.

However, depletion patterns stay under strain. While request approached pre-crisis levels successful 2024, it is estimated to person fallen by 5% successful 2025, reflecting tighter household budgets. Per capita depletion stands astatine 41 litres, among the lowest successful the EU.

A wide displacement has besides emerged from on-premise depletion (such arsenic restaurants and hotels) towards retail sales, contempt continued maturation successful tourism.

Exports reached €35 million, doubling compared with pre-2010 levels, while imports roseate to €39 million, underscoring stronger planetary contention and increasing request for overseas brands.

Economic interaction and employment

The study estimates the total value generated by the broader brew supply chain—including retail and hospitality—at €2.041 billion, equivalent to 0.86% of Greece’s GDP.

Overall employment supported by the assemblage reaches astir 73,000 jobs, astir of them linked to hospitality and tourism. For each nonstop occupation successful brewing, an further 39 jobs are supported crossed the wider economy.

The manufacture besides contributed €427 cardinal successful taxes successful 2024, including €203 cardinal from excise duties connected beer. When VAT and broader supply concatenation effects are included, total tax revenues scope €1.53 billion.

Market structure and competition

The Greek brew marketplace has undergone important restructuring implicit the past 25 years. Market attraction has declined markedly, with the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) falling by 43% betwixt 2000 and 2024, indicating a much competitory landscape.

While starring players still dominate, smaller breweries and caller entrants person steadily accrued their presence. The stock of private-label beers has declined aft peaking earlier successful the decade, while non-alcoholic and trade brew segments proceed to expand.

Advertising remains an important competitory tool, though spending by the three largest home breweries has fallen from €45 cardinal successful 2015 to €35 cardinal successful 2024.

Costs, taxation and profitability pressures

The assemblage continues to look important outgo and tax pressures. The nett net borderline stood astatine 10.5% successful 2024, down from humanities levels of 14–15%, reflecting higher costs and aggravated competition.

Beer excise work successful Greece remains among the highest successful the EU, ranking sixth crossed subordinate states and sitting astir 50% supra the EU average. Following successive increases betwixt 2009 and 2016, the tax load has astir doubled compared with pre-2016 levels.

Including VAT, the total tax load connected brew is estimated astatine astir 42% of the last retail price, with the state collecting €203 cardinal successful excise duties unsocial successful 2024.

Source: tovima.com