Beer imports totaled 3,598,587 barrels, which was a slight increase of 27,400 barrels, up 0.8% compared to July 2021, Beer Institute reports after analyzing Commerce Department data. Mexican imported beer was again the biggest driver of growth, up 7.4% compared to last year. Mexican imported beer accounted for 80% of total imported beer volume for the month of July, up from 73% in July 2019. Other contributors to growth included Ireland (+38.4%), Italy (+69%), and Germany (+2.5%).

Belgium (-84%) and Poland (-89%) experienced notable declines for July, most likely attributable to shifts in location of production, BI's Danelle Kosmal, vp-research, said. Adjusting for those shifts in production, shipments for imported beer are up 4.4% for July 2022 compared to July 2021, and up 8.8% year-to-date. Even with Belgium and Poland in the scenario, year-to-date shipments for imports are up 3.9%.