The Netherlands overtook Mexico to become the biggest supplier of imported beer to Canada in 2008. For the year, Canadians imported $528.5 million in beer supplies from 72 different countries.
Over that same period, Canada exported US$305.3 million worth of brew in 2008 to its sole international client, the United States of America.
In the international trade of ales and lagers, Canada incurred a $223.2 million deficit in beer sales during 2008.
Top Countries for Imported Beers
Listed below are the top 15 nations that shipped the most beer supplies to Canada during 2008. The four leading nations (Netherlands, Mexico, USA and Belgium) accounted for 75% of Canada’s total beer imports last year.
- Netherlands … $128.1 million (24.2% of total imported Canadian beer, up 18.1% from 2007)
- Mexico … $112.9 million (21.4% of total, down 2.9%)
- United States … $87.8 million (16.6% of total, down 3.2%)
- Belgium … $67.4 million (12.7% of total, up 1.7%)
- Ireland … $28.3 million (5.3% of total, up 13%)
- Germany … $26.6 million (5% of total, up 9.1%)
- United Kingdom … $26.2 million (4.9% of total, up 9.5%)
- Denmark … $11.2 million (2.1% of total, up 44.5%)
- France … $6.9 million (1.3% of total, up 12.7%)
- Brazil … $6.5 million (1.2% of total, down 31.9%)
- Czech Republic … $6 million (1.1% of total, down 1%)
- Poland … $4.6 million (0.9% of total, down 12.4%)
- Turkey … $2.8 million (0.5% of total, up 1868.4%)
- Jamaica … $2.3 million (0.4% of total, up 0.3%)
- China … $1.7 million (0.3% of total, down 3.5%).
Highest Increases in Imported Beer Sales
The previously mentioned $528.5 million in Canadian beer imports for 2008 represents a 5% increase from the prior year. Among the following 15 countries with the highest percentage sales gains from 2007, most of these countries shipped small amounts relative to Canada’s total imported beer supplies.
- Malta … US$18,359 (up 367,080% from 2007)
- Croatia … $242,928 (up 7,484)
- Turkey … $2.8 million (up 1868%)
- Romania … $16,947 (up 366.3%)
- Laos … $5,524 (up 283.9%)
- Spain … $218,560 (up 79.7%)
- Iceland … $1,341 (up 70%)
- Israel … $501 (up 45.2%)
- Denmark … $11.2 million (up 44.5%)
- Austria … $1.5 million (up 38.7%)
- Montenegro … $10,570 (up 35.1%)
- Philippines … $217,923 (up 30.7%)
- Ukraine … $304,245 (up 22.2%)
- Lithuania … $162,055 (up 20.4%)
- Italy … $1.4 million (up 19.8%)
- Netherlands … $128.1 million (up 18.1%).
Tariff Duties for Imported Beer
Canada Border Services Agency imposes no tariff on imported beer made from malt (international tariff duty code 2203.00), regardless of the beer’s country of origin. Also, Canadians represent a mosaic of different ethnic backgrounds and cultures. For example, Chinese Canadians may prefer imported Chinese beers just as Canadian drinkers from Brazil have acquired a taste for Brazilian ales.
These two factors may explain why imported Canadian beers are delivered from such a wide range of exporting countries.
Latest Sales Trends for Imported Beer Supplies
For the first eight months of 2009, Canadian imports of foreign-made beer were down 1.8% to $365.7 million from $372.4 million during the same period in 2007.
However, some of Canadian’s larger beer suppliers were able to grow the sales of their imported beers by double-digit percentages. Imported beer shipments from the U.S. gained 29% to $73.8 million while imports of ale from the U.K. jumped 79.1% to $31.5 million.
During the same period to August 2009, the exports of Canadian beer shrank by 35.9% to $136.6 million. The sole trading partner for Canadian beer remains the U.S.
To improve global beer sales and profits, Canadian beer makers must expand exported beer sales to customers around the world.
Sources: Industry Canada's Trade Data Online, based on Statistics Canada reports as of November 7, 2009 and Canada Border Services Agency's online customs tariff manual.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
