Imported Beer Volume Plunges 13.8% in September; Taxable Removals Down 4.3%

Imported beer volume fell 13.8% in September from a year earlier, as beer imports from Mexico fell 14.4%. The year to date trend for beer imports from Mexico is down 1.5%, and the year to date trend for overall beer imports is now 3.2%, Andrew Heritage, Beer Insitute economist notes.

Imports from Ireland grew 8.6% from a year earlier in September. Imports from Germany grew 18.5%. Both growth rates were achieved despite President Trump's tariffs.

Heritage estimated the volume of beer produced in the U.S. in September subject to excise tax at 11.5 million barrels, a decrease of 4.3% year over year. The year-to-date trend through September is 5%.

Total industry supply decreased 6.2% in September, he added, saying the rolling 12-month average for industry total supply has improved incrementally as the year progressed. The 12-month trend through September has improved to -4.8%, an improvement of 1.7 percentage points.