China consumed 34.5 million hectoliters of beer. Premium volumes reached 3.9 million hectoliters while overall production fell. The statistics below detail revenue, market shares, and output by province.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, China consumed 34.5 million hectoliters of beer, down 3% from 2021.
- In 2022, beer industry revenue totaled 285 billion yuan.
- In 2022, Snow Beer held 27.5% market share in sales volume.
- In 2022, China's beer production totaled 34.89 million kiloliters, a 2.1% decrease from 2021.
- In 2022, beer market declined 3.5% YoY.
China’s beer market is rebounding strongly, signaling growing consumer demand and bright prospects for brewers.
Related reading
01 · Category
Consumption and Sales26 stats
01
In 2022, China consumed 34.5 million hectoliters of beer, down 3% from 2021.
02
Per capita beer consumption in China was 24.5 liters in 2022.
03
Beer sales volume reached 33.8 million kiloliters in urban areas in 2022.
04
In 2021, total beer sales revenue was 256 billion yuan.
05
Off-trade beer sales accounted for 65% of total volume in 2022.
06
On-trade beer consumption dropped to 12 million hectoliters in 2022.
07
In 2020, beer consumption fell 5.1% to 35.2 million kiloliters.
08
Premium beer consumption grew 8.2% to 3.9 million hectoliters in 2022.
09
Rural beer consumption was 11.5 million kiloliters in 2022.
10
Beer sales in e-commerce channels surged 25% to 2.8 billion liters in 2022.
11
In 2019, consumption totaled 37.4 million hectoliters.
12
Per capita urban consumption reached 32 liters in 2022.
13
Low-alcohol beer sales hit 5.2 million kiloliters in 2022.
14
Beer exports consumption equivalent was 1.1 million hectoliters in 2022.
15
In 2023 Q1, sales volume was 6.9 million kiloliters.
16
Craft beer consumption doubled to 1.5 million hectoliters since 2019.
17
Beer sales in Guangdong province led at 3.2 million kiloliters in 2022.
18
Shandong consumption 2.9 million hectoliters in 2021.
19
Annual beer consumption growth rate was -2.5% in 2022.
20
In 2018, consumption was 39.1 million kiloliters.
21
Female beer consumption rose 15% to 8.5 million hectoliters in 2022.
22
Youth (18-35) accounted for 55% of beer sales volume in 2022.
23
Beer sales per capita in Beijing was 45 liters in 2022.
24
Shanghai beer consumption 1.8 million kiloliters in 2021.
25
Zero-alcohol beer sales grew 40% to 0.8 million hectoliters in 2022.
26
Total beer sales outlets numbered 5.2 million in China in 2022.
Interpretation
Consumption and Sales Interpretation
While China's total beer volume is gently sobering up, the nation's thirst is refining itself, with craft, premium, and e-commerce brews booming as drinkers trade quantity for quality and convenience.
02 · Category
Economic and Financial26 stats
01
In 2022, beer industry revenue totaled 285 billion yuan.
02
Tsingtao Brewery profit 4.2 billion yuan in 2022.
03
CR Snow revenue 120 billion yuan from beer in 2022.
04
Industry profit margin averaged 8.5% in 2022.
05
Beer exports value reached 1.2 billion USD in 2022.
06
Tax revenue from beer industry 45 billion yuan in 2022.
07
Average beer price 3.5 yuan per liter in 2022.
08
Investment in beer production 15 billion yuan in 2022.
09
Employment in beer sector 1.2 million jobs in 2022.
10
Malt import value for beer 2.8 billion USD in 2022.
11
Beer retail price index rose 1.2% in 2022.
12
Tsingtao stock value 150 billion yuan market cap 2023.
13
Industry EBITDA 35 billion yuan in 2022.
14
Hop imports cost 450 million USD for brewers in 2022.
15
Premium beer average price 8.2 yuan/liter in 2022.
16
Craft beer pricing averaged 25 yuan per bottle 2022.
17
Government subsidies to breweries 2.5 billion yuan 2022.
18
Beer packaging costs 12% of total production costs 2022.
19
Export growth 5.3% in value to 1.26 billion USD 2023.
20
R&D spend by top brewers 3 billion yuan in 2022.
21
Industry debt ratio 45% average in 2022.
22
Wholesale beer price 2.8 yuan/liter national avg 2022.
23
Foreign investment in breweries 10 billion USD cumulative.
24
Profit per hectoliter 650 yuan industry avg 2022.
25
Energy costs 8% of production expenses in 2022.
26
Beer contributed 0.2% to GDP in 2022.
Interpretation
Economic and Financial Interpretation
Amidst towering revenues of 285 billion yuan, China's brewers are pouring out a potent economic cocktail, where a single company's 4.2-billion-yuan profit floats on a sea of beer priced for the masses at just 3.5 yuan a liter.
More related reading
04 · Category
Production Volume30 stats
01
In 2022, China's beer production totaled 34.89 million kiloliters, a 2.1% decrease from 2021.
02
China's beer output in 2021 was 35.64 million hectoliters, down 4.2% year-over-year.
03
In 2020, beer production in China reached 37.18 million kiloliters despite COVID-19 impacts.
04
Hubei province led beer production with 4.2 million hectoliters in 2022.
05
Shandong province produced 3.8 million kiloliters of beer in 2021.
06
China's craft beer production grew to 1.2 million hectoliters by 2022.
07
Total beer production capacity in China exceeded 120 million kiloliters in 2023.
08
In 2019, China produced 39.79 million hectoliters of beer.
09
Jiangsu province's beer output was 2.9 million kiloliters in 2022.
10
Guangdong produced 2.5 million hectoliters of beer in 2021.
11
China's low-alcohol beer production hit 5.6 million kiloliters in 2022.
12
In 2018, national beer production stood at 41.15 million hectoliters.
13
Sichuan province output 2.1 million kiloliters in 2022.
14
Hebei province produced 1.9 million hectoliters of beer in 2021.
15
Craft beer production facilities numbered over 500 in China by 2023.
16
In 2023 Q1, beer production was 7.2 million kiloliters.
17
Zhejiang province's beer production reached 1.8 million hectoliters in 2022.
18
Hunan output 1.7 million kiloliters in 2021.
19
Annual beer production per brewery averaged 150,000 hectoliters in 2022.
20
China's malt usage for beer production was 8.5 million tons in 2022.
21
In 2017, beer production peaked at 42.7 million hectoliters.
22
Fujian province produced 1.2 million kiloliters in 2022.
23
Anhui output 1.5 million hectoliters in 2021.
24
Beer production in Henan was 1.6 million kiloliters in 2022.
25
Over 1,000 breweries operated in China in 2023.
26
In 2022, premium beer production segment grew 3.5% to 4.1 million hectoliters.
27
Liaoning province's beer output was 1.4 million kiloliters in 2021.
28
Jiangxi produced 1.1 million hectoliters in 2022.
29
Shaanxi output 1.0 million kiloliters in 2021.
30
In 2023, beer production forecast at 35.2 million hectoliters.
Interpretation
Production Volume Interpretation
Despite a sobering multi-year contraction in China's beer output, the industry is clearly fermenting a more premium and craft-focused future, with production capacity sitting idly by like a patient designated driver.
05 · Category
Trends and Projections30 stats
01
In 2022, beer market declined 3.5% YoY.
02
Premiumization trend: premium share to reach 20% by 2027.
03
Craft beer CAGR 15% from 2020-2025 projected.
04
Zero-alcohol beer to grow 25% annually to 2028.
05
Per capita consumption forecast 28 liters by 2025.
06
Production recovery expected +1.5% in 2023.
07
E-commerce sales to hit 30% of total by 2025.
08
Health-conscious low-carb beers rising 10% YoY.
09
Export volume projected 1.5 million KL by 2025.
10
Urbanization drives 2% annual consumption growth post-2023.
11
Sustainability: 50% breweries adopt green tech by 2025.
12
RTD beer crossover impacting traditional 5% by 2024.
13
AI in brewing optimization adopted by 30% firms 2023-2025.
14
Female consumer segment to grow 20% by 2027.
15
Provincial production shift to West: +10% by 2030.
16
Digital marketing spend up 40% in 2023-2025.
17
Import premium brands share to 25% by 2028.
18
Recycling rate for beer cans 85% target by 2025.
19
Youth sobriety trend reduces mass-market 4% annually.
20
Supply chain localization 70% by 2025.
21
Revenue growth forecast 2.8% CAGR 2023-2028.
22
Microbrewery count to 2,000 by 2025.
23
Baijiu-beer hybrid innovations 15% trial by 2024.
24
Climate impact: production cost +3% annually.
25
Online live-stream sales 20% of e-com by 2025.
26
Health labeling mandatory boosting low-alc 30%.
27
ASEAN export focus: 40% growth by 2027.
28
Automation rate 60% in large breweries by 2025.
29
Vegan beer options 10% market penetration 2028.
30
Post-COVID on-trade rebound 15% in 2024.
Interpretation
Trends and Projections Interpretation
The Chinese beer market is on a sophisticated diet, drinking less in volume but obsessively upgrading its taste for premium, craft, and zero-alcohol options while feverishly digitizing its shopping and brewing with a green conscience.
Reference
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APA
Elif Demirci. (2026, February 13). China Beer Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/china-beer-industry-statistics
MLA
Elif Demirci. "China Beer Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/china-beer-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Elif Demirci. 2026. "China Beer Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/china-beer-industry-statistics.
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