2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Area
har-
vested
(Ha)*
30899 30636 30659 31101 32139 32143
Yield
(Hg/
Ha)**
16488 17852 14437 15899 18070 18882
27
Barth-Haas group, The Barth Report (2009/2010).
28
Questionnaire breweries, Ernst and Young, 2011
29
Questionnaire breweries, Ernst and Young, 2011
Hops are another important ingredient of beer; added
in the process for bitter favour and as a stability agent.
Although the majority of hops are used in beer production,
some are used for various purposes in other beverages
and in herbal medicines. There are different types of hops,
each giving the beer a particular favour.
In 2009, around 44% hops produced worldwide were of
European origin. Germany is by far the most important
hop-producing country, followed by the Czech Republic
and Poland. The United States accounted for some 39%
of global hop production.
27
In 2009, the production of
hops in the USA increased (from 30%) and the production
in Europe decreased (from 53%). However, 2010 fgures
show that acreage in the USA has dropped back to an
area comparable to 2008. In Germany the total acreage
remained stable in 2010.
Twenty-fve breweries in sixteen different countries
indicated in their questionnaire where they purchase their
hops. The majority, 24 breweries, answered that they
purchase (part of) their hops in Germany. Eight breweries
mentioned the USA and six breweries buy (part of) their
hops in the Czech Republic
28
.
The total value of hops indicated by thirty breweries in
eighteen different countries is around 62 million euro
29
.
These breweries together produce around 110 million
hectolitres of beer.
3 | Hops
›
Graph 6.1. / Production of hops (in tonnes)
›
Table 6.4. / Area harvested and yield of Hops, EU+ (total),
2004-2009
›
Source : Barth-Haas group, The Barth Report (2009/2010)
›
Source : European Commission.
* May include offcial, semi-offcial or estimated data
**Calculated data
06
0
20000 40000 60000 80000 100000 120000
Germany
Czech Republic
Poland
Rest of EU 27
America
Asia
Africa
Australia/Oceania
45
Agricultural products