Belgian breweries are facing a double whammy that’s putting a serious damper on their exports and local sales. First up, the United States slapped a 15% tariff on Belgian beer. Then, new taxes on aluminum cans have driven up production costs. Ouch! 🍺💸
At the recent 25th annual Brussels Beer Festival, set against the stunning backdrop of the Grand Place, 57 brewers showcased over 570 beers. It was a beer lover’s dream… but behind the scenes, things are far less festive. 🎉😕
“Of course there will come price increases to be affordable still as a brewery to export to the United States. But then it’s to be creative and see to which price point a consumer of the United States will buy the Belgian beer,” explains Michiel Clyncke, Co-CEO of Kasteel Brewery Vanhonsebrouck.
In 2024, nearly $4 billion worth of European beer flowed into the United States. Now, with higher import fees and rising can costs, Belgian producers must level up like in a video game to unlock new markets and keep their brews competitive. 🌍✨
Back home in Belgium, domestic demand has lost its fizz, leaving breweries scrambling for fresh ideas. Can they innovate and keep the party going? ¡Salud! 🍻
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
