Belgium’s beer consumption declined in 2025 but the nation’s breweries continue to invest heavily in new technology and process improvements, new research shows.

The figures, released by the Belgian Brewers Federation, revealed that consumption dipped by 3.2% to 6.2 million hectolitres.

Export demand, which is a strong contributor to the Belgian beer sector, dropped to 14.4 million hectolitres.

However low and no-alcohol beers are proving to be a boon for the country’s 395 brewers. The consumption of 0.5% ABV beers was up 32% compared to 2024. For beers at 3.5% ABV and below, the category increased 17%. This represents 6.5% of Belgium’s beer market.

One bright spot for the industry was the growing popularity of alcohol-free beer. Consumption of beers containing less than 0.5% alcohol surged by 32% compared with 2024.

Another positive for the sector is that investment levels are high, with more than €200m (€213m) spent in 2015. This is a marked increased on the €178 invested in 2024.

According to the Belgian Brewers Federation, this spend has focused on the research and development of alcohol-free beers, as well as a raft of sustainability measures designed to cut water and energy consumption.