1.251
0
5
10
15
20
Of which
exports
Production
0
500
1.000
1.500
2.000
2.500
16
3
Purchases
of supplies
Value added
Production
value (million €)
Million
hectolitres (hl)
764
3.614
0
500
1.000
1.500
2.000
2.500
3.000
3.500
4.000
0
500
1.000
1.500
2.000
Employment
Taxes, excise and social
security contributions (ssc)
brewing sector (million €)
366
782
304
118
Excise
VAT retail
VAT hospitality
Incomes taxes
and social
security
contributions
2 | Market structure, trends
and developments
3 | Direct effect
of the brewing sector
France is traditionally a wine-drinking country, featuring
by far the lowest levels of spending on beer out of total
alcoholic drinks expenditure. France, which is known
as a major wine-producing and exporting country,
consumes far more wine than beer. Per capita beer
consumption remained stable over the past three years;
30.5 litres, which is less than half the quantity consumed
in the UK
13
.
France is one of the few countries in which production
and consumption of beer has remained relatively stable over
the past three years. In comparison with 2008, production
increased slightly by 0.1% and consumption decreased
by 0.5%. However, export volumes increased by more
than 30%. France’s main export markets are Spain, United
Kingdom and Germany. The volume of import increased
as well, by 11%. The main import markets of France are
Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. According to
the Brasseurs de France, consumption patterns changed
because of the success of premium and specialty beers.
Two brewing companies, both belonging to one of the
major fve brewing companies in Europe, together represent
around three-quarters of the French beer market.
France has a large group of artisanal producers of beer
in small quantities. Retail is by far the largest sales channel
for beer (76% of total sales volume).
Other developments in the beer sector are :
New laws regarding the protection of environment
and sustainable development. These laws state that 75%
of packaging shall be recycled from 2012, and private
companies will have to pay 80% of the costs of the
collection and sorting. Because of these green laws,
the costs of the “green dot” for the breweries will
increase. For instance, the cost of the green dot (Eco
Emballages) for glass bottles will increase from 19 millions
of euro in 2009 to 52 millions of euro between 2011
and 2016.
Threat of higher tax rates due to the public defcits.
Diffculties with retail distribution.
The direct economic beneft of the brewing sector for
the French economy is signifcant. In 2010, the direct
economic impact of the brewing sector covers more than
3,600 employees who together produce beer, representing
a value of 2000 million euro, which is comparable to 2008.
13
Brasseurs de France (2011
14
)
›
Graph 17.1. / Direct effect
›
Source : Ernst & Young calculation (2011)
The Contribution made by Beer to the European Economy
108