U.S. beer imports fell 3.2% through September

U.S. beer imports fell in September and remained below last year’s levels through the first nine months of 2026, while exports rose largely because of a sharp increase in shipments to Honduras, according to trade data released on Wednesday, November 4, by the Beer Institute using figures from the Census Bureau and the Commerce Department.

The United States imported 925.8 million gallons of beer from January through September, down 3.2% from the same period in 2025. Exports reached 39.6 million gallons, up 20.9%. The gap between the two flows remained wide. For every gallon of beer the United States exported, it imported 23.4 gallons. Imports were down by 30.6 million gallons over the nine-month period, while exports rose by 6.8 million gallons.

The figures measure trade volume, not retail sales or revenue. The Beer Institute report does not include prices, and it lists non-alcoholic beer in separate tables.

Mexico remained by far the largest foreign supplier to the U.S. market. Shipments from Mexico totaled 796.9 million gallons through September, down 1.5% from a year earlier. Even with that decline, Mexico’s share of U.S. beer imports increased to 86.1% from 84.6% because shipments from most other suppliers fell faster.

The Netherlands posted a steeper decline in absolute terms than many smaller exporters and accounted for much of the overall drop. U.S. imports of Dutch beer fell 18.3% to 63.8 million gallons, a decrease of 14.3 million gallons. Mexico’s shipments fell by 12.1 million gallons. Together, Mexico and the Netherlands accounted for most of the net decline in U.S. imports.

Ireland held the No. 3 spot among suppliers, with 26.4 million gallons, down 2.9%. Germany was nearly flat at 13.2 million gallons, down 0.1%. Mexico, the Netherlands, Ireland and Germany together supplied 97.3% of all beer imported by the United States during the period.

Most of the next-largest suppliers also posted declines. Belgium’s shipments fell 5.5% to 3.19 million gallons. Canada fell 16.6% to 2.94 million gallons. Italy dropped 10.1% to 2.17 million gallons. Guatemala declined 28.5% to 1.75 million gallons, and Jamaica fell 40.6% to 1.39 million gallons. Imports from the United Kingdom dropped 8.9% to 1.70 million gallons, while Poland was down 7.9% to 1.63 million gallons.

A smaller group of countries increased shipments to the United States, though from much lower bases. Imports from the Czech Republic rose 2.6% to 1.27 million gallons. Spain increased 10.3% to 1.18 million gallons. France climbed 32.7% to 1.16 million gallons. Mainland China rose 35.4% to 852,256 gallons, and Portugal increased 47.7% to 294,509 gallons. Those gains were not large enough to offset losses among the main suppliers.

The breakdown by packaging shows where much of the decline occurred. Beer imported in bottles fell 8.31% to 468.0 million gallons. Imports in cans rose 1.87% to 400.7 million gallons, and keg imports increased 8.43% to 57.1 million gallons. Bottles lost 42.4 million gallons, more than the total decline in imports, while gains in cans and kegs partly softened the overall drop. Bottles accounted for 50.6% of beer imports through September, down from 53.4% a year earlier. Cans increased their share to 43.3% from 41.1%.

Mexico showed the same shift in package mix. U.S. imports of Mexican beer in bottles fell 5.9% to 398.7 million gallons, while cans rose 2.9% to 361.4 million gallons and kegs increased 7.3% to 36.8 million gallons. The Netherlands moved in the opposite direction, with all three formats lower. Dutch bottle shipments fell 17%, cans fell 23%, and kegs fell 5.9%.

Ireland recorded one of the biggest changes inside its export mix. Bottle shipments from Ireland dropped 64.2%, falling from 8.27 million gallons to 2.96 million gallons. At the same time, canned imports from Ireland rose 37.4% to 10.90 million gallons, and keg imports increased 14.2% to 12.55 million gallons. Germany kept its overall volume nearly unchanged because a 17.1% rise in keg shipments almost fully offset declines of 6.2% in bottles and 6.9% in cans.

The September data worsened the import picture. The United States imported 79.3 million gallons of beer in September, down 13.8% from September 2025. That monthly drop of 12.65 million gallons accounted for 41.3% of the cumulative decline recorded from January through September. Imports from Mexico fell 14.4% in September, and shipments from the Netherlands fell 24.4%, although some other suppliers, including Ireland, Germany and Canada, increased deliveries that month.

On the export side, the gain was concentrated in one market. Honduras increased purchases of U.S. beer to 15.92 million gallons from 6.42 million gallons a year earlier, a rise of 148.1%. Honduras accounted for 40.2% of all U.S. beer exports through September, up from 19.6% in the same period of 2025.

The increase to Honduras alone was larger than the total increase in U.S. beer exports. Shipments to Honduras rose by 9.50 million gallons, while overall exports rose by 6.84 million gallons. Excluding Honduras, U.S. beer exports fell from 26.33 million gallons to 23.67 million gallons, a decline of 10.1%.

South Korea also helped lift export volumes. U.S. shipments there rose 28.6% to 5.38 million gallons, making it the second-largest destination. Costa Rica increased purchases 8.4% to 2.09 million gallons, and the Dominican Republic rose 40.4% to 1.93 million gallons. Other markets moved lower. Panama reduced imports of U.S. beer by 15.3% to 2.65 million gallons. Mainland China fell 6.4% to 1.98 million gallons, and Chile was down 11.1% to 1.35 million gallons.

Canada posted one of the largest absolute declines among export destinations for U.S. beer. Shipments there fell from 1.98 million gallons to 288,896 gallons, an 85.4% drop. Exports to the Netherlands fell 23.7% to 551,433 gallons, and shipments to Japan dropped 34.1% to 309,465 gallons. The trade report measures those changes but does not explain the commercial reasons behind them.

September strengthened the export growth trend. The United States exported 5.60 million gallons of beer in September, up 61.5% from the same month in 2025. Honduras received 1.55 million gallons in September, up from 643,528 gallons a year earlier. The Dominican Republic rose from 31,670 gallons to 842,205 gallons in the month, a much sharper increase than its gain for the full January-through-September period.

Non-alcoholic beer showed a different pattern. The United States imported 15.18 million gallons of non-alcoholic beer in the first nine months of 2026, down 1.4% from a year earlier. In September alone, those imports rose 32.4% to 1.78 million gallons, but that monthly increase was not enough to bring the year-to-date total back into positive territory.

The Netherlands was the largest foreign supplier of non-alcoholic beer to the United States, with 7.94 million gallons, down 3.3%. Mexico followed with 3.61 million gallons, down 2.5%. Ireland increased shipments 62.4% to 1.73 million gallons, while Germany fell 20.5% to 1.05 million gallons. Canada reduced deliveries 9.9% to 537,007 gallons.

U.S. exports of non-alcoholic beer fell 20.7% through September to 944,570 gallons, despite a 141.4% increase in September shipments. Mexico was the main buyer at 480,559 gallons, down 1.4%. Canada received 186,814 gallons, a decline of 24.9%. The United Kingdom moved in the opposite direction, increasing purchases 19.4% to 116,838 gallons.