Craft beer production in Mexico grows 7%

The craft beer sector in Mexico estimates that by the end of 2021 there will be a 26% increase in production.

Craft beer production in Mexico grows 7%
Production of craft beer in Mexico grows 7%. Photo by Mojor Zhu / Unsplash

Despite having a more moderate trend compared to previous years, craft beer production in Mexico rebounded by 7% in the last year. According to the National Survey of Independent Craft Beer Producers (Enpica) 2020-2021, this variation is greater than the growth results of the industrial segment, which showed a 5 percent increase in volume.

According to the report, the sector estimates that by the close of 2021 there will be an increase in its production of 26 percent, which would not only represent a return to the double-digit growth that has been a constant in the industry but also implies a significant recovery to pre-pandemic levels.

"Growth in sales share nationally was only 0.01 percent; where the industry went from 0.84 to 0.85 percent. This shows that independents are in a situation where craft beer is still at a disadvantage to industrial beer," said the Asociación Cervecera de la República Mexicana (Acermex).

Although the consumer has adapted, the laws have not yet, because Mexican law does not recognize the concept of craft beer, except in local cases such as the northern state of Baja California, which creates confusion and obstacles. The issue of artisanal production is not very well regulated. So there are certain loopholes, there are certain loopholes both in the law and in the regulation that, if they were regulated.

The big industrialists acquire small breweries and continue selling the product as an artisan to take advantage of new consumption habits. There is a global trend for alternative products, for alternative trade, which includes what are artisanal products, and it is this idea to stop consuming from the big chains. That is a global trend and this, in the case of beers, is a representation of that trend.