Imported Beer Orders Surge; Craft Upward?

The National Beer Wholesalers Association’s Beer Purchasers’ Index continued to paint a gloomy overall picture, but orders for imported beers surged sharply and a 14-point year-over-year swing for craft suggested the segment may have bottom out and should see higher levels of ordering in the future.  Here’s how the segments break out for August:

· The index for imports continues to point to expanding volumes with an August 2023 reading of 73, a full 10 points higher than the August 2022 reading of 63.

· The craft index at 42 continues to signal contraction but is 14 points above the August 2022 reading of 28.

· The premium light index posted another expansionary index reading of 58, a 20-point jump above the August 2022 reading of 38.

· The premium regular segment index at 48 is also significantly above the August 2022 reading of 33.

· The big downward shift in the below premium segment noted in July 2023 appears to be an anomaly, as the August reading rebounded to an expansionary reading of 52 — a full 10 points above the August 2022 reading of 42.

· The FMB/seltzer reading of 33 in August is only slightly higher than the August 2022 reading of 31, suggesting the segment, similar to craft, has bottomed out and may see higher levels of ordering in the future.

· Finally, the cider segment posted an August reading at 33 compared to 26 in August 2022.

A reading above 50 in a segment means volumes in that segment are expanding. An index below 50 indicates volumes are contracting.