Canada has retained the top spot as the leading importer of craft beer from the USA , representing 51.3% of total exports. The UK is the second import largest market, accounting for 10.5%, higher than Sweden (6.7%), Korea (4.6%), Australia (3.8%) and China (2.5%).
This year, the Asia-Pacific region (not including Japan) grew 7.4%, while exports to Japan were up 2.6%. Exports to western Europe (France, Spain and Italy) saw a 1.3% increase.
Exports to the UK grew by 7.1% in 2017; the UK now accounts for 10.5% of total exports in 2017.
Although 2017 represented another record year, export growth has slowed for the past three years. In 2014, US craft beer exports rose by 35.7%.
“From innovative styles to international distribution, American craft beer is breaking boundaries,” said Steve Parr, export development program manager at the Brewers Association.
“Through the Brewers Association Export Development Program, we’re able to take the success of local brewers and showcase them on a global scale”.
According to the export development program, currently more than 100 small and independent brewers export their beers from the USA.