Alcoholic beverages include cider, beer, ale, wine and spirits such as vodka, rum, brandy and whiskey.  Throughout the world, there is huge demand for alcoholic beverages mainly due to rising middle-class and above-average economic growth in various developing countries. Even some cultural changes in certain markets such as India, where women can also consume alcohol, are also adding up to the increased volumes of alcoholic beverages. The wine segment, in the alcoholic beverages market represents more than 35 per cent of market share.  

Beer, cider and flavoured alcoholic beverages are the world’s leading sectors of alcoholic beverages market. The revenue generated by these sectors, is estimated to be 52% of the total market revenue. In 2009, the global beer market had a growth of more than USD 470 billion and is expected to reach USD 500 billion in 2013. The global market for cider is forecast to reach USD 2.6 billion in 2014 and the global alcoholic beverages market, is expected to reach around USD 0.96 trillion in 2016, as per the report given by the Canadean.  

In India, vodka is the fastest growing IMFL (Indian Made Foreign Liquor, which includes whisky, rum, vodka, brandy and gin) segment. There is a rapid growth of vodka production as well as consumption, mainly because of the increase in the number of pubs, hotels, restaurants that are evolving nightlife and consumer preferences in the country, as per the data given by Business Wire.

Anheuser-Busch InBev is the leader in the global alcoholic beverages market, which represents more than 20% of the overall market volume.

In 2009, the world beer industry had a decrease of around 0.5% in 2009, and the market size was $471 trillion and by 2014, the market is forecast to reach around $497 billion. In 2010, the global spirits market had a growth of more than 3% and the market size had reached $262 billion and in 2015, the market is forecast to reach more than $306 billion. Diageo is the top global spirits company, with over 5% of overall market volume, as per the report given by MarketLine.

By 2015, the global cider market is forecast to reach more than $2.5 billion, and the growth is mainly because of the huge demand for organic products and drinks having very low alcohol content. The UK is the biggest and has fastest expanding cider market in the world, mainly driven by the increased demand from young consumers along with the rising disposable incomes. In the same year, even the global wine market is forecast to reach more than 26 billion litres. India, China and Russia are the developing nations who have significant growth potential in the wine market, as per the report given by Global Industry Analysts. 

Alcoholic Beverages Industry Current Trends

In 2014, the global alcoholic drinks industry is forecast to reach above $1 trillion. In the same year, the market volume is expected to reach around 210 billion litres. Flavoured alcoholic beverages, beer and cider are the leading market segment of this industry, contributing more than half of the overall market value. In the world’s alcoholic drinks market, the European Union (EU) represents around 57%, as per the data given by MarketLine.

Major Industry Players

Bacardi, Grey Goose vodka, Carlsberg, Australian Fosters, Constellation Wines, Heineken, Remy Cointreau, Maison Burtin, Bombay Sapphire gin, Robert Mondavi, Kendall-Jackson, Aston Manor, Halewood, Marton’s Beer,  E & J Gallo Winery, Green Mountain and Pernod Ricard are some of the major alcoholic beverages industry players in the world.