Czech Beer Exports Drop in 2023 but Heritage Remains Strong

Czech beer exports dropped by 4.3% in 2023, falling to 5.7 million hectolitres, according to data from the Czech Association of Brewers.

This decline mirrors the overall stagnation in the global beer market, with consumption still below pre-COVID-19 levels and not expected to fully recover until 2027, according to Statista.

Despite this dip, more than one in four Czech beers is exported, making the international market crucial for local brewers.

While overall Czech beer exports have nearly tripled over the past 25 years, recent declines have not affected all brewers equally. Heineken, in particular, saw its export volume drop by over half, losing 265,000 hectolitres.

This reduction, attributed to either market shifts in Russia or changes in Heineken’s European export strategy, knocked the company from fourth to fifth among Czech exporters. Despite this, Heineken’s domestic sales remained stable.

Plzeňský Prazdroj, the dominant player in both the domestic and export markets, also experienced a decline, with a 7.25% drop in physical exports.

However, when including licensed production brewed abroad, Prazdroj’s overall export volume remained relatively steady. Pilsner Urquell, its flagship product, continues to be brewed exclusively in Plzen, while the more mainstream Kozel brand is also produced under license internationally.

Budvar’s Continued Growth

Budvar, best known for its ongoing legal battles over the Budweiser name with American giant Anheuser-Busch, solidified its position as the country’s second-largest beer exporter in 2023.

The state-owned brewery, managed by the Czech Ministry of Agriculture, saw export growth of 4.6% and a 3.8% increase in domestic sales. Budvar remains committed to its nationalistic brand image, emphasizing its use of local ingredients and Czech brewing traditions.

The brewery exports 72% of its production, with Germany, Poland, Slovakia, and the UK being its top markets.

According to Tomas Maier, an economics professor at the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, Czech beer “means something with high quality, so it is still an excellent export article.”

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