Lisbon, Aug. 7, 2026 (Lusa) - Sales in the Portuguese beer sector grew by 1.67% in the first half of the year, compared with the same period in 2025, driven by non-alcoholic beer, the APCV – Cervejeiros de Portugal (brewers) announced on Friday, International Beer Day.
According to preliminary figures, beer sales in the Portuguese market rose by 1.67%, the APCV stated on International Beer Day, which is observed on the first Friday in August.
«The main trend in the Portuguese market continues to be the strong growth of non-alcoholic beer,» the organisation said in a statement.
Having grown by 11.5% in 2025, «the segment recorded, in the first half of 2026, an increase of around 12% in sales and almost 17% in production».
This trend «confirms the brewing companies' continued commitment to innovation, diversifying their product range and developing alternatives tailored to different consumption occasions and lifestyles».
According to APCV, «the Portuguese market stands in contrast to the European downturn, although it shares a common trend: the sustained growth of non-alcoholic beer».
According to the latest «European Beer Trends» report from Brewers of Europe, beer production in the European Union fell by 2.9% in 2025, whilst consumption declined by 3.2%. Conversely, non-alcoholic beer continued to grow in the European market.
«Volumes in the European Union rose by 5.87% in 2025 and by more than 38% since 2020,» the statement reads.
Currently, «one in every 12 beers consumed in the European Union is non-alcoholic», according to the Portuguese Brewers' Association, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.
According to the study «Socio-economic Impact of the Beer Sector in Portugal», carried out by Nova School of Business and Economics and already published, every euro of tax revenue directly linked to the beer sector generates €36.86 for the State.
The sector's contribution to Portugal's GDP [Gross Domestic Product] stands at 2.53%, creating more than 170,000 direct, indirect and induced jobs.
ALU/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
