The total production of Czech breweries for the domestic and export markets reached just under 20.9 million hectolitres in 2024 — 4.2% more than in 2023. Domestic sales rose thanks to increasing interest among Czechs in non-alcoholic beer. Its total production, including flavoured variants, amounted to 1.6 million hectolitres — more than ever before.
The Czech brewing industry is beginning to recover slightly after years of decline. Beer production rose by 4.2% year-on-year to almost 20.9 million hectolitres. The main drivers were growing beer exports to EU countries and increasing demand for non-alcoholic beer within the Czech Republic. The rise in consumption of non-alcoholic beers in 2024 contributed to higher total domestic sales compared to the previous year.
“Over the past ten years, we have observed growing interest in non-alcoholic beers, including flavoured variants, among adult domestic consumers. Last year, non-alcoholic beers accounted for almost 10% of total sales by domestic breweries on the Czech market,” says Tomáš Slunečko, Managing Director of the Czech Brewers and Maltsters Association.
On the other hand, average per capita consumption of alcoholic beer has fallen again: in 2024, each Czech drank an average of 126 litres of beer — 16 litres less than in 2019.
Significant growth in non-alcoholic beer
For the twelfth consecutive year, the non-alcoholic beer category confirmed itself as a long-term growing and successful segment. Total sales of non-alcoholic beers and their flavoured variants amounted to over 1.6 million hectolitres — an increase of almost 14% compared to 2023 and more than 50% compared to 2019. Breweries have responded to this growing demand by expanding their range to include new flavours and non-alcoholic variants of various beer styles.
Decline in sales in pubs and restaurants
An ongoing trend is the shift in beer consumption from pubs and restaurants (on-trade) to retail and consumption at home (off-trade). The gap between on-trade and off-trade has widened further in favour of the off-trade, which now accounts for 71% of beer sales — the highest figure ever recorded, apart from the years before the First World War.
Growth in exports
The increase in total exports is primarily due to rising demand. In 2024, exports rose by 788,000 hectolitres compared to the previous year — an increase of more than 15% — reaching a total of 5.9 million hectolitres, the highest figure since records began. Almost 90% of this growth was attributable to countries within the European Union. Czech beer is particularly popular in Germany and Slovakia.
Czechs favour cans and lager beer
The classic glass bottle remains the most popular form of packaging, but its share of total sales fell by one percentage point to 39% last year. In contrast, the share of cans increased significantly, accounting for 23% of all beer packaging — an increase of more than a tenth compared to the previous year. The popularity of cans can be explained by their practicality: they are light, easy to handle, protect the contents well and chill quickly. Demand for PET bottles has fallen slightly again.
The most popular type of beer among Czechs remains lager with an original gravity of 11 to 12%, whose share rose by one percentage point to 58.3%. Demand for lager is growing year-on-year — at the expense of weaker beers with a gravity of 7–10%, whose share fell to 36.9%. Interest in other types of beer has remained steady at 4–5% for over 15 years.
Český svaz pivovarů a sladoven
(Czech Association of Breweries and Maltsters)
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