More than one billions pints of British beer (5.68 million hectoliters) worth £600 million ($809m) were exported last year to a record 121 countries. Total UK beer exports grew by nearly £100 million ($135m), which secured British brewers’ a spot among the UK’s top food and drink exports.
The development was fueled by the increasing number of breweries and beer brands. 2,000 new beer brands hit the market and 520 new breweries opened last year in the UK, bringing the total number up to 1,655. This makes UK the country with the most craft breweries per capita in the world (inside.beer, 4.9.2017)
George Eustice, Minister of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said today that “the craft beer boom in particular has secured our position at the forefront of the industry and made us a first choice for beer lovers the world over – with major retailers and supermarkets now stocking our smaller, unique brands over global big hitters..”
Last year Defra and Department for International Trade (DIT) launched the first International action plan to boost food and drink exports over the next five years. The two departments and VisitBritain, initiated the Food is GREAT campaign to help driving exports for UK produce overseas - increasing the demand around the world and positive public perception of our food and drink.
