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Beer Manufacturing in Australia - Market Research Report (2015-2030)

Michael Doyle Michael Doyle Melbourne, Australia Last Updated: February 2025 ANZSIC C1212

Revenue

$8.7bn

2025-26

$8.7bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

11,739

Businesses

878

Wages

$XXX.Xm

Beer Manufacturing in Australia industry analysis

Despite declining per capita beer consumption, the Beer Manufacturing industry has experienced revenue growth thanks to consumers' growing preference for higher priced craft beers. Drinkers are shifting away from traditional full-strength beers, opting instead for craft beers offering perceived quality and unique drinking experiences. This has increased smaller, independent breweries’ viability, pushing down market share concentration. Major brewers Asahi and Lion are capitalising on this trend by expanding their craft beer portfolios through acquisitions and significant marketing investments, as seen in Lion's 2021 acquisition of Fermentum Pty Ltd.

Trends and Insights

  • Consumers' growing preference for craft beer has boosted industry revenue amid declining consumption. While overall beer consumption has fallen, higher priced craft beers are increasing revenue as consumers spend more per beer for perceived quality and unique experiences.
  • Craft beer sales are outpacing other segments. Consumers are increasingly favouring craft beers for their perceived quality and trendiness, boosting craft beer's revenue share over the past five years.
  • Most of Australia’s beer manufacturers are based in New South Wales and Victoria. Unsurprisingly, the two most populous states in the country are home to the most breweries, as businesses try to stay close to their consumer base.
  • New entrants to the Beer Manufacturing industry must obtain land and manufacturing equipment. Businesses must also obtain licenses and compete with major players for shelf and tap space.

Access hundreds of data points and trends

  • Market estimates from 2015-2030
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 0.9 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $8.7bn in 2025.

Trends and Insights

Consumers’ growing preference for craft beer has boosted industry revenue despite declining consumption

  • Consumers are shifting away from traditional full-strength beers like Victoria Bitter and XXXX Gold and towards higher priced craft beers, elevating selling prices and increasing revenue. As per capita beer consumption falls to historic lows, drinkers are exploring different brands and styles and spending more per beer, favouring premium-priced craft beers for their perceived quality and unique drinking experiences.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Beer Manufacturing in Australia
Revenue (2015-2030)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2025-2030)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Continual rises in excise taxes will challenge brewers' profit margins

  • The Independent Brewers Association has reported that Australia has the third-highest tax on beer globally, behind only Norway and Finland. Such high taxation levels significantly impact breweries’ cost structures.

Biggest companies in the Beer Manufacturing in Australia

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue ($m)
2025
3,078.3
1,817.1
203.4

To view the market share and analysis for all 5 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Beer Manufacturing in Australia
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Full-strength traditional beer, Mid-strength beer and Light beer. Full-strength traditional beer is the largest segment of the Beer Manufacturing in Australia.

Trends and Insights

Classic full-strength beer lives on as the highest sales segment despite drops in recent years

  • Classic full-strength beers are non-craft, non-international beers with an alcohol by volume (ABV) of 3.5% or greater. Examples are popular brands like Victoria Bitter and Carlton Draught.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Industry operators manufacture beer, ale, stout or porter. Operators generally package beer in kegs, bottles or cans, and sell it to bars, wholesalers and retailers. The industry does not include production of non-alcoholic beer.

What's included in this industry?

Full-strength traditional beerMid-strength beerLight beerPremium beerLow-carbohydrate beerCraft beer

Companies

Asahi HoldingsLionCoopers Brewery

Purchase this report to view all 5 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

ALCOHOL BY VOLUME (ABV)HOPSKEG

Industry Code

ANZSIC 2006

ANZSIC 1212 - Beer Manufacturing in Australia

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Consumers' growing preference for craft beer has boosted industry revenue amid declining consumption. While overall beer consumption has fallen, higher priced craft beers are...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Craft beer sales are outpacing other segments. Consumers are increasingly favouring craft beers for their perceived quality and trendiness, boosting craft beer's revenue shar...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets
  • International Trade

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2025
  • Product innovation level
  • Total imports, level and trend
  • Total exports, level and trend
  • Trade Balance

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2025
  • Major market segmentation in 2025
  • International trade, including imports by country and exports by country

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
  • Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Most of Australia’s beer manufacturers are based in New South Wales and Victoria. Unsurprisingly, the two most populous states in the country are home to the most breweries, ...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2025

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2025
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

New entrants to the Beer Manufacturing industry must obtain land and manufacturing equipment. Businesses must also obtain licenses and compete with major players for shelf an...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2020-2025
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Lion and Asahi continue to dominate the market. These Japanese companies make up over half the market, having recently acquired smaller breweries. Their scale and power make ...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025
  • Overview of Asahi Holdings's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
  • Overview of Lion's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
  • Overview of Coopers Brewery's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 2 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Asahi Holdings, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Lion, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Coopers Brewery, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 2 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Per capita alcohol consumption has declined in recent years, primarily because of a rapid decrease in per capita beer consumption driven by health-conscious consumers. This d...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Rising raw material and energy prices have increased purchase costs. Surging costs for malt, hops, aluminium and glass have pushed this trend, as brewers have struggled to pa...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Average Wage (2015-2030)
  • Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
  • Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2015-2030)
  • IVA (2015-2030)
  • Establishments (2015-2030)
  • Enterprises (2015-2030)
  • Employment (2015-2030)
  • Exports (2015-2030)
  • Imports (2015-2030)
  • Wages (2015-2030)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Beer Manufacturing industry in Australia in 2025?

The market size of the Beer Manufacturing industry in Australia is $8.7bn in 2025.

How many businesses are there in the Beer Manufacturing in Australia industry in 2025?

There are 878 businesses in the Beer Manufacturing industry in Australia, which has grown at a CAGR of 7.9 % between 2020 and 2025.

Has the Beer Manufacturing industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Beer Manufacturing industry in Australia has been growing at a CAGR of 0.9 % between 2020 and 2025.

What is the forecast growth of the Beer Manufacturing industry in Australia over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Beer Manufacturing industry in Australia is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Beer Manufacturing market in Australia?

The biggest companies operating in the Beer Manufacturing market in Australia are Asahi Holdings, Lion and Coopers Brewery

What does the Beer Manufacturing in Australia include?

Full-strength traditional beer and Mid-strength beer are part of the Beer Manufacturing industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Beer Manufacturing in Australia?

The company holding the most market share in Australia is Asahi Holdings.

How competitive is the Beer Manufacturing industry in Australia?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Beer Manufacturing industry in Australia.

Related Industries

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Complementors

  • There are no industries to display.

View all industries in Australia

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Australia include:

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics
  • Australian Taxation Office
  • Australian Securities & Investments Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.