More than a third of New Zealand's craft beer brewers are exporting and another third say they plan to expand into global markets within two years, an ANZ Bank industry survey shows.
Although overall beer consumption has fallen 12 per cent in New Zealand since 2008, the volume of high-strength beer has almost doubled since 2009, reflecting the growing demand for craft beers as the number of craft brewers also jumped to 111 from 52 in the past five years. Off-premises retail sales of craft beer rose 42 per cent in the past year.
Within the past two years the craft segment has risen to 13 per cent from 9 per cent of New Zealand's total beer sales. That figure includes craft beer from the major brewing companies, DB Breweries and Lion.
With intensifying domestic competition, the report says 25 craft brewers are pursuing sales overseas, and 20 others are considering doing so in the next two years.
