Each year BarthHaas publish timely statistics on the global hop and brewing industries, as well as insights into the latest agronomic and economic trends. It is one constant in a market that is always changing.
If you want to get straight to the details, you can…
Download BarthHaas Report 2025/2026 (PDF)
…or you can read our summary below.
The global hop market remains under significant pressure despite further acreage reductions. Global hop acreage fell 5% to 52,660 hectares in crop year 2025, while total crop volume declined 3% to 109,188 metric tonnes.
Germany remains the world’s largest hop-growing country, with 18,962 hectares in 2025, a year-on-year reduction of 6%. The USA followed with 17,057 hectares, down 7% from the previous year.
Global hop production fell to 109,188 metric tonnes. Despite a slight increase in average alpha acid content from 10.5 to 10.6%, the total alpha yield decreased 3% to 11,532 metric tonnes.
Global beer production fell by 1% to just below 1.9 billion hectolitres. At the same time hop demand fell by 3% to approximately 10,700 metric tonnes of alpha acid, a decline attributable not only to lower beer output but also reduced hop dosage in the brewing process and changes in beer style composition. This resulted in a surplus of approximately 1,200 metric tonnes of alpha acid, corresponding to structural surplus production of approximately 5,100 hectares.
“The global hop and beer industry is undergoing a period of far-reaching structural change,” says Thomas Raiser, CEO of BarthHaas. “A persistent surplus is compounded by changing consumer behaviour and mounting economic pressure throughout the entire value chain. What matters now is how adaptable the industry remains, all the way from hop growing to brewing.”
While the global figures reflect an industry in transition, they also point to where the real opportunities lie. Hop growers and brewers that respond with agility, invest in the right varieties, and align production with genuine demand will be best placed to thrive as the industry finds its new equilibrium.
Get in touch to discuss your brewing plans and crop 2026 hop requirements, or to learn more about the experimental hops we’re developing for the next generation of beer styles. Together, we can navigate this period of change and come out stronger on the other side.
A bit about BarthHaas:
HPA are regional representatives of the global BarthHaas group, which is the world’s largest supplier of hop products and services.
BarthHaas operates across all continents, providing support to its members along the whole value supply chain: from breeding and growing through to processing and the marketing of hops and hop products.
Their innovation centres, Barth Innovations in the UK and Haas Innovations in the US, are dedicated to research and development. We have access to their results, which means our customers can take advantage of the full potential of hops. Because your beer is our passion.
