Peru's beer imports posted 35% growth in January-August 2016 over the same period last year, Lima's Chamber of Commerce (CCL) reported.
"Given the 1.4-million-liter volume drop in this product's imports in the 2012-2016 period, this upswing is generating major expectations on beer consumption recovery," CCL Foreign Trade Center (CCEX) Manager Carlos Garcia informed.
During the first eight months of the year, the Inca nation imported 5.6 million liters of beer, thus exceeding US$5 million.
Suppliers
Mexico stands as Peru's main beer (and main Corona beer) supplier, contributing to 58% of the country's imports. The North American nation is followed by Colombia (18%) and the Netherlands (9%).
The Latin nation also imports beer from Germany, Argentina and Japan.
Brands
CCEX analyzed Peru's top 20 imported beer brands. The ranking is led by Corona beer (3.3 million liters), followed by U.S. Miller (over a million liter).
"These two brands contribute to 76% of Peru's beer imports," Garcia stressed.
Third in the list is Dutch Heineken (8% of participation, 445,000 liters), followed by Peroni (4%, 247,000 liters) and Grolsch (2%).
Premium beer
Over the past four years, Peru's beer imports have evidenced an ongoing 'premiumization' trend. This tendency refers to consumers' increasing preference for premium beers, whether traditional or craft, both more expensive than the average.
According to the CCEX Manager, such effect unfolds at all levels: economical beer consumers now buy standard, whereas higher-income consumers have gone from standard to premium beers.
"It should be noted economic growth led to an internal consumption peak of national and imported beer in 2012, which has gradually decreased," he pointed out.
The decreasing number of beer manufacturers and supermarkets' surging expansion have also influenced said trend.
Craft beer
The aforementioned “premiumization” has led to an increase in craft beer consumption.
Although craft beer imports remain low compared to conventional beer, it has recorded major growth over the past two years (70% and 149%, respectively).
This year, most-renowned craft beer brands are La Socarrada, Maredsous and Gulden Draak.
In light of this scenario, alcoholic drink consumption should recover along with the country's economy, which would translate into an additional example of the impact of trade-opening policies, CCEX observes.
(END) RGP/RGP/DHT/MVB