AMSTERDAM: The Netherlands exported a record €1.6bn worth of beer last year, a rise of 4% on 2013, the national statistics office CBS said. Most – 37% – went to the US, but this was down 4% in euro terms on a year ago, the CBS said.
Exports to France, China and Taiwan rose in value. Nearly all the beer exported by the Netherlands was actually brewed in the country. Just 7% was brewed elsewhere and sold on through Dutch distributors. The Netherlands was the world’s biggest exporter of beer until 2010, when it was overtaken by Mexico. Mexican exports were valued at €1.8bn in 2014, the CBS said. Germany and Belgium are in third and fourth places on the beer export list. Heineken (which owns Amstel), Grolsch and Bavaria are the biggest Dutch breweries but the country is also home to hundreds of specialist and microbreweries.
