Cerveceros Latinoamericanos presents the results of a detailed study on the economic impact of the brewing sector in Latin America and the Caribbean. The analysis, conducted by Oxford Economicsreveals that the brewing industry represents 1.3% of regional GDP and generates 1.4% of jobs in these diverse economies.
The report examines data from 21 countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Belize, Suriname, Venezuela, Guyana, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Guatemala.
Economic Impact
The sector contributes $88.7 billion to the regional GDP, distributed as follows:
| Brewers $57,500 million | Downstream value chain $31.1 billion |
|---|---|
| $20 billion (direct impact) | $11.9 billion (direct) |
| $20.8 billion (supply chain) | $7.3 billion (supply chain) |
| $10.2 billion (salary impact) | $7.1 billion (salaries) |
| $6.5 billion (supply chain investments) | 4.7 billion (investments) |
Employment Generation
The sector supports 3.9 million jobs:
| Brewers 2 million seats | Downstream value chain 1.9 million jobs |
|---|---|
| 170,000 direct jobs | 1 million direct |
| 1.1 million in supply chain | 310,000 in supply |
| 470,000 for salaries | 320,000 for salaries |
| 320,000 for investments | 230,000 for investments |
Tax Contribution
Generates $58.9 million in taxes:
| $11.3 million from brewers |
| 5.5 million downstream |
| 37.1 million in sales taxes (VAT and specific taxes) |
"This analysis demonstrates the crucial role of beer in Latin American economies. The industry not only creates jobs, but also drives tax revenues and economic development," said Tania E. Ramos Beltrán, Executive Director of Cerveceros Latinoamericanos.
The study, supported by the World Brewing Alliancehighlights how the industry generates value from agriculture to hospitality services.
Note: All values use 2023 prices and exchange rates. Full report at cerveceroslatinoamericanos.com.
About Cerveceros Latinoamericanos
Founded in 1945, Cerveceros Latinoamericanos represents and leads the regional brewing industry, uniting its member companies: ABInBev, Cerveceria Ambev Guatemala, Backus, Balashi Brewery, Bavaria, Belize Brewing Company, CCU, Cervecería Hondureña, Cervecería Nacional de Ecuador, Cervecería Nacional de Panamá, Cervecería Nacional Dominicana, Compañía Cervecera de Nicaragua, FIFCO, Grupo Modelo, Heineken, La Constancia and Cervecería Polar, together with the associations: Cámara de la Agroindustria Cervecera Argentina(Cerveceros Argentinos), Cámara Venezolana de Fabricantes de Cerveza (Cerveceros de Venezuela), Asociación de Productores de Cerveza de Chile(ACECHI), Cámara de la Cerveza y la Malta de México(Cerveceros de México), Sindicato Nacional de la Industria de la Cerveza de Brasil(SINDICERV) and Cámara Cervecera del Perú(CCP), covering 22 countries from Mexico to Argentina and across the Caribbean.
Revitalized in 2024 under the leadership of Tania Elizabeth Ramos Beltran as Executive Director, our united network actively promotes the interests of regional brewers, working to foster collaboration and sustainable growth of an industry that contributes $88.6 billion to regional GDP, generates 3.9 million jobs and contributes $58.8 billion in taxes.
Operating under the CRECE (Regional Brewers: Collaborative and Efficient Strategy) framework, we drive public health, regulatory and sustainability initiatives through our organizational structure that includes the Board of Directors, the Caribbean Brewing Network and "Cerveceros Unidos por Latinoamérica" (Brewers United for Latin America). As an active member of the World Brewers Alliance(WBA) and an affiliate of IARD, we amplify our impact as we build together a prosperous future for the region's brewers on the global stage.