Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 1.7 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €1.9bn in 2025.
Trends and Insights
The surging success of Guinness lifts fortunes across the wider industry
- The industry’s fortunes are heavily dictated by the performance of Guinness, Diageo’s flagship stout, which dominates thanks to centuries of brewing heritage and global acclaim since its founding in 1759. While long established as Ireland’s best-known beer, Guinness has surged to new heights in recent years, fuelled by social media trends like viral “Split the G” challenges and its signature smooth texture, attracting younger consumers in their droves. In the year to June 2024, Diageo’s beer sales grew 18% in Europe, which the company attributed to the rising success of Guinness. Given Diageo’s dominance in the market, the stout’s stellar performance has lifted overall industry revenue, as sales of the “Black Stuff” continue to soar both at home and abroad.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2025-2030)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Breweries will enhance their green credentials to align with shifting consumer values
- Boasting strong sustainability credentials will remain vital for producers to comply with tightening regulations and keep pace with growing environmental consciousness. PwC’s Voice of the Consumer survey 2025 reveals that 77% of Irish consumers are concerned about climate change, aligning with EY’s 2024 Future Consumer Index, which showed that 65% of Irish consumers plan to pay closer attention to the environmental impact of their purchases in the coming years. Shifting consumer attitudes will pressure producers to adopt greener practices or risk losing sales, prompting brewers to strengthen their sustainability efforts to stay ahead of the curve. Heineken is aiming to achieve net-zero emissions at its Cork Brewery by 2030, as part of its global “Brew a Better World” strategy.
Biggest companies in the Beer Production in Ireland
| Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue (€m)
2025 |
|---|---|---|
Diageo plc | 1,408.8 | |
Heineken Ireland Ltd | 184.7 | |
C&C Group plc | 41.5 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Lager, Stout and porter and Ale. Lager is the largest segment of the Beer Production in Ireland.
Trends and Insights
Traditional lagers take a hit as modern drinking trends gather pace
- Lager is typically light, sparkling and served cold. It is matured for one to two weeks in cold storage to stabilise the product and develop flavour.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
This industry produces beer for the consumer market. The main ingredients used by brewers are barley, malt, sugar and yeast. These are bought and brewed to produce a variety of beers like lager, ale and stout. Products are then sold on to wholesalers and on-trade and off-trade buyers.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in the Beer Production industry in Ireland include Lager, Stout, Porter, Ale and Non-alcoholic beer.Companies
Companies covered in the Beer Production industry in Ireland include Diageo plc, Heineken Ireland Ltd and C&C Group plc.Purchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
Related terms covered in the Beer Production industry in Ireland include bord bia, on-trade and off-trade.Industry Code
SIC 11.05 - Beer Production in Ireland
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
US tariff uncertainty piles pressure on the industry. The introduction of a 15% tariff in August by the US has slowed growth, as producers grapple with higher costs and weake...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
Non-alcoholic beer demand is rising with health trends. Increasing health consciousness drives demand for alcohol-free options, prompting major brands like Heineken and Diage...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
- International Trade
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2025
- Product innovation level
- Total imports, level and trend
- Total exports, level and trend
- Trade Balance
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2025
- Major market segmentation in 2025
- International trade, including imports by country and exports by country
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
- Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
Being able to get products to market influences where brewers set up. The Border region has more brewers than anywhere else in Ireland because of the ease of exporting – it b...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2025
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each region in 2025
- Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of employees in each region in 2025
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
Beer competes with substitute beverages. These include cider, wine and spirits, which directly compete with lagers, ales and stouts across on- and off-trade channels.
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2020-2025
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
International demand drives Guinness sales. Guinness has surged in popularity in recent years, fuelled by viral social media challenges and its signature smooth texture. Dema...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025
- Overview of Diageo plc's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of Heineken Ireland Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of C&C Group plc's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for Diageo plc, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Heineken Ireland Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for C&C Group plc, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
Alcohol production is heavily regulated. Brewers contend with licensing requirements and stringent advertising rules – not to mention the heavy taxation they face through exc...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2015-2030)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
Beer producers invest heavily in scale and non-alcoholic innovation. Producers like Diageo are upgrading their facilities to boost efficiency and expand into non-alcoholic of...
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
- Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Average Wage (2015-2030)
- Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
- Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2015-2030)
- IVA (2015-2030)
- Establishments (2015-2030)
- Enterprises (2015-2030)
- Employment (2015-2030)
- Exports (2015-2030)
- Imports (2015-2030)
- Wages (2015-2030)
Top Questions Answered
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Beer Production industry in Ireland in 2025?
The market size of the Beer Production industry in Ireland is €1.9bn in 2025.
How many businesses are there in the Beer Production industry in Ireland in 2025?
There are 134 businesses in the Beer Production industry in Ireland, which has grown at a CAGR of 4.2 % between 2020 and 2025.
How may import tariffs affect the Beer Production industry in Ireland?
The Beer Production industry in Ireland is likely to be impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a moderate share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Beer Production industry in Ireland?
The Beer Production industry in Ireland is likely to be impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a moderate share of industry revenue.
Has the Beer Production industry in Ireland grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Beer Production industry in Ireland has been growing at a CAGR of 1.7 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Beer Production industry in Ireland over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Beer Production industry in Ireland is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Beer Production industry in Ireland?
The biggest companies operating in the Beer Production industry in Ireland are Diageo plc, Heineken Ireland Ltd and C&C Group plc
What does the Beer Production industry in Ireland include?
Lager and Stout are part of the Beer Production industry in Ireland.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Beer Production industry in Ireland?
The company holding the most market share in the Beer Production industry in Ireland is Diageo plc.
How competitive is the Beer Production industry in Ireland?
The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Beer Production industry in Ireland.
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in Ireland include:
- Central Statistics Office
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- Irish Tax & Customs
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
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