From the staggering AUD 32.5 billion in total revenue to the surprising fact that non-alcoholic drinks now command 58% of the market, Australia's beverage industry is a dynamic powerhouse brimming with opportunity and shifting consumer tastes.
Key Takeaways
- The Australian beverage industry generated total revenue of AUD 32.5 billion in 2023, up 4.2% from the previous year.
- Non-alcoholic beverages accounted for 58% of total beverage market revenue in Australia during FY2023.
- The overall beverage market in Australia grew at a CAGR of 3.8% from 2018 to 2023.
- Beer production in Australia totalled 1.45 billion litres in calendar year 2023.
- Wine grape crush volume was 1.77 million tonnes in 2022-23 vintage.
- Soft drink manufacturing output reached 2.1 billion litres annually in 2023.
- Per capita beer consumption in Australia was 75 litres in 2023.
- Wine consumption per capita stood at 23.5 litres in 2022-23.
- Soft drinks consumption averaged 120 litres per person annually in 2023.
- The beverage sector revenue totalled AUD 35.2 billion in FY2023.
- Alcoholic beverages generated AUD 18.7 billion in revenue in 2023.
- Non-alcoholic beverage revenue was AUD 16.5 billion in 2023.
- Australia exported AUD 3.1 billion worth of beverages in 2022-23.
- Wine exports volume was 750 million litres valued at AUD 2.9 billion in 2023.
- Beer exports reached 45 million litres worth AUD 250 million in 2023.
Australia's beverage industry grew significantly in 2023, led by both alcoholic and non-alcoholic segments.
Consumption Statistics
- Per capita beer consumption in Australia was 75 litres in 2023.
- Wine consumption per capita stood at 23.5 litres in 2022-23.
- Soft drinks consumption averaged 120 litres per person annually in 2023.
- Bottled water consumption per capita reached 45 litres in 2023.
- Energy drinks consumption grew to 12 litres per capita in 2023.
- Spirits consumption per capita was 2.8 litres of pure alcohol in 2023.
- RTD beverages consumption volume per capita hit 6.5 litres in 2023.
- Functional beverage intake per capita increased to 15 litres in FY2023.
- Juice consumption per capita declined to 18 litres in 2023.
- Low/no alcohol beer consumption surged 25% to 3 litres per capita in 2023.
- Per capita spirits consumption rose to 3.1 litres pure alcohol equivalent.
- Cider consumption per capita was 2.2 litres in 2023.
- Sports drinks consumption grew 14% YoY to 8 litres per capita.
- Carbonated soft drinks consumption 95 litres per capita annually.
- Millennials consumed 40% of premium RTD beverages in 2023.
- Gen Z beverage spend up 20% on health-focused drinks.
- 55% of Australians drink bottled water weekly in 2023 survey.
- 62% of consumers prefer low-sugar beverages in 2023.
- Female consumers drove 45% of rosé wine consumption.
- 70% of households bought plant milks in 2023.
Consumption Statistics Interpretation
It seems Australians are conducting a deeply scientific, multi-beverage experiment where we're simultaneously trying to hydrate with a bathtub of bottled water, power up on energy drinks, nostalgically cling to a heroic amount of beer, and yet also, in a moment of clarity, collectively ask for that beer to be low-alcohol and the soft drink to be sugar-free.
Economic Impact
- Beverage industry employed 55,000 people directly in Australia in 2023.
- Alcoholic beverage manufacturing supported 120,000 jobs including indirect in 2023.
- Wine industry contributed AUD 5.4 billion to GDP in 2022-23.
- Soft drink sector generated AUD 2.1 billion in wages and salaries in FY2023.
- Beverage exports supported 25,000 jobs in regional Australia in 2023.
- Tax revenue from beverages totalled AUD 15.2 billion in 2023.
- Craft brewing added AUD 1.5 billion to economy through tourism in 2023.
- Beverage industry R&D investment was AUD 450 million in FY2023.
- Beverage manufacturing contributed 1.2% to national manufacturing GDP in 2023.
- Beverage industry paid AUD 4.2 billion in excise duties in FY2023.
- Regional beverage employment 35,000 full-time equivalents in 2023.
- Beverage supply chain contributed AUD 10.5 billion to GDP.
- Industry innovation grants totalled AUD 120 million in 2023.
- Sustainable packaging adopted by 75% of beverage firms.
- Beverage tourism generated AUD 2.8 billion revenue.
Economic Impact Interpretation
Australia's beverage industry is far more than a collection of hangovers and sugar rushes; it's a potent economic engine, distilling everything from morning coffees to fine wines into tens of billions in GDP, robust tax revenues, and hundreds of thousands of jobs, proving that what we drink truly does pour prosperity back into the country.
Market Overview
- The Australian beverage industry generated total revenue of AUD 32.5 billion in 2023, up 4.2% from the previous year.
- Non-alcoholic beverages accounted for 58% of total beverage market revenue in Australia during FY2023.
- The overall beverage market in Australia grew at a CAGR of 3.8% from 2018 to 2023.
- Bottled water segment within beverages reached AUD 2.1 billion in retail sales in 2023.
- Energy drinks market value in Australia hit AUD 1.4 billion in 2023, with 15% YoY growth.
- Australian wine industry export value reached AUD 2.9 billion in 2022-23.
- Total soft drinks production volume in Australia was 1.8 billion litres in 2022.
- Craft beer segment contributed AUD 850 million to the market in 2023.
- RTD (ready-to-drink) beverages sales volume grew 12% to 150 million litres in 2023.
- Functional beverages market in Australia valued at AUD 1.2 billion in FY2023.
- Functional beverages market projected to grow at 6.5% CAGR to 2030.
Market Overview Interpretation
With Australians increasingly choosing hydration over hangovers, the $32.5 billion beverage industry is soberly caffeinating itself towards a functional future, one remarkably expensive bottle of water at a time.
Market Value and Revenue
- The beverage sector revenue totalled AUD 35.2 billion in FY2023.
- Alcoholic beverages generated AUD 18.7 billion in revenue in 2023.
- Non-alcoholic beverage revenue was AUD 16.5 billion in 2023.
- Beer market revenue reached AUD 12.4 billion in FY2023.
- Wine retail revenue totalled AUD 6.2 billion in 2023.
- Spirits and liqueurs revenue hit AUD 4.1 billion in 2023.
- Soft drinks retail sales revenue was AUD 5.8 billion in 2023.
- RTD segment revenue grew to AUD 2.3 billion in 2023.
- Bottled water revenue increased 7% to AUD 2.4 billion in FY2023.
- Craft beer revenue share reached 8% of total beer market at AUD 1.1 billion.
- Premium beer segment revenue up 9% to AUD 3.2 billion in 2023.
- Tea and coffee ready-to-drink sales revenue AUD 950 million in 2023.
- Plant-based milk alternatives revenue AUD 1.1 billion in 2023.
- No/low alcohol wine sales up 30% to AUD 150 million revenue.
- Hard seltzer market revenue AUD 450 million in FY2023.
- Beer wholesale revenue AUD 8.9 billion in 2023.
- Premiumisation drove 15% revenue growth in spirits segment.
- Online beverage sales revenue AUD 3.4 billion in FY2023.
- Lager beer held 65% market share by volume in 2023.
Market Value and Revenue Interpretation
While Australians may not be able to decide if they're more thirsty or more parched, the nation's AUD 35.2 billion beverage industry clearly shows a sophisticated split personality, with the sobering pursuit of craft beers and premium spirits barely edging out the collective craving for a decent cup of coffee and a hydrating bottle of water.
Production Statistics
- Beer production in Australia totalled 1.45 billion litres in calendar year 2023.
- Wine grape crush volume was 1.77 million tonnes in 2022-23 vintage.
- Soft drink manufacturing output reached 2.1 billion litres annually in 2023.
- Spirits production volume in Australia was 45 million litres of pure alcohol in 2023.
- Bottled water production hit 1.5 billion litres in Australia for 2023.
- Craft brewery output grew to 120 million litres in 2023, up 8% YoY.
- Juice and nectar production volume was 450 million litres in FY2023.
- Cider production reached 55 million litres in Australia during 2023.
- Energy drink manufacturing output was 320 million litres in 2023.
- RTD spirits production volume totalled 120 million litres in 2023.
- Low-alcohol beverage production increased 18% to 80 million litres in 2023.
- Sparkling wine production reached 65 million litres in 2022-23 vintage.
- Organic beverage production up 22% to 250 million litres in 2023.
- Table wine crush was 1.2 million tonnes in 2023 vintage.
- Kombucha production reached 45 million litres in Australia 2023.
- Fortified wine production 15 million litres in 2022-23.
- Cold brew coffee RTD production 25 million litres in 2023.
- Dairy-based beverages production 1.2 billion litres annually.
- Ginger beer production surged 28% to 18 million litres.
- Electrolyte drinks production 90 million litres in 2023.
- Vitamin water sales volume 35 million litres annually.
Production Statistics Interpretation
Australia's beverage industry is basically a high-stakes hydration experiment, where we've somehow decided the optimal way to quench a national thirst involves a complex cocktail of 1.45 billion litres of beer, a heroic amount of coffee-in-a-can, and just enough kombucha to make us feel virtuous about the whole glorious mess.
Trade Statistics
- Australia exported AUD 3.1 billion worth of beverages in 2022-23.
- Wine exports volume was 750 million litres valued at AUD 2.9 billion in 2023.
- Beer exports reached 45 million litres worth AUD 250 million in 2023.
- Spirits exports grew 10% to AUD 450 million in FY2023.
- Beverage imports totalled AUD 2.8 billion in 2022-23.
- Imported soft drinks value was AUD 180 million in 2023.
- RTD exports from Australia hit AUD 120 million in 2023.
- China received 35% of Australia's wine exports by value in 2023.
- US imported AUD 450 million in Australian beverages in 2023.
- Australia imported 120 million litres of beer in 2023 valued at AUD 320 million.
- UK beverage imports from Australia totalled AUD 180 million in 2023.
- Distilled spirits exports volume 12 million litres in 2023.
- Imported wine volume 250 million litres worth AUD 1.2 billion.
- ASEAN markets took 20% of Australian beverage exports.
- Export growth to India reached AUD 85 million for beverages.
- Bulk wine exports 420 million litres in 2022-23.
Trade Statistics Interpretation
The data reveals Australia’s beverage trade is a spirited global tango, where we proudly export oceans of wine for billions, yet curiously import back a river of beer, all while keeping the accountants tipsy with a delicate, almost-even balance of trade.
Sources & References
- Reference 1IBISWORLDibisworld.comVisit source
- Reference 2STATISTAstatista.comVisit source
- Reference 3EUROMONITOReuromonitor.comVisit source
- Reference 4BEVERAGESCOUNCILbeveragescouncil.org.auVisit source
- Reference 5WINEAUSTRALIAwineaustralia.comVisit source
- Reference 6ABSabs.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 7BREWERSbrewers.org.auVisit source
- Reference 8DRINKSTRADEdrinkstrade.com.auVisit source
- Reference 9GRANDVIEWRESEARCHgrandviewresearch.comVisit source
- Reference 10DISTILLERSdistillers.org.auVisit source
- Reference 11CRAFTBREWINGASSOCIATIONcraftbrewingassociation.com.auVisit source
- Reference 12CIDERcider.org.auVisit source
- Reference 13FRUITJUICEfruitjuice.org.auVisit source
- Reference 14DFATdfat.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 15AUSWINEAUSTRALIAauswineaustralia.comVisit source
- Reference 16AIHWaihw.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 17ORGANICBEVERAGESorganicbeverages.org.auVisit source
- Reference 18GOVgov.ukVisit source
- Reference 19ATOato.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 20PLANTBASEDAUSTRALIAplantbasedaustralia.comVisit source
- Reference 21REGIONALAUSTRALIAregionalaustralia.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 22KOMBUCHAAUSTRALIAkombuchaaustralia.comVisit source
- Reference 23COFFEEBEVERAGEScoffeebeverages.com.auVisit source
- Reference 24DAIRYdairy.org.auVisit source
- Reference 25INDUSTRYindustry.gov.auVisit source