The Latvian beer industry has seen a strange downturn, shifting from a nation renowned for beer-making to one dominated by imports. Reinis Pļaviņš, chairman of the Latvian Society of Independent Brewers (LNAB) and manager of the Labietis brewery revealed that 60% of beer consumed in Latvia now comes from abroad.
Since 2016, imported beer has outpaced locally brewed beer, undermining the interests of small brewers and the Latvian economy. “Of the 150-160 million litres consumed, 100 million litres was imported,” Pļaviņš noted. This marks a major departure from Latvia’s historical prominence in beer exportation. Over 150 years ago, Latvia exported beer across the Russian Empire, with Riga as a central hub for brewing.
Currently, many beers bearing Latvian names like ‘Lielvārde’, ‘Madona’, ‘Lāčplēsis’, ‘Aldaris’, ‘Bauska’, and ‘Mežpils’ are no longer produced domestically. The small Baltic market has driven brewers to relocate production facilities to economically advantageous locations, reducing Latvia to a consumer market.
Global giants Carlsberg and Royal Unibrew produce beer in neighboring countries and sell it in Latvia. This strategy places Latvia as the third-largest beer importer globally, with each resident spending approximately EUR 55 annually on non-Latvian beer.
Latvia’s independent brewers have united to challenge the dominance of global players. “When we founded the association, we were 14 breweries. Two more have joined since then. We have the potential to increase our numbers by another 10-15,” Pļaviņš stated. The association aims to preserve and promote Latvia’s beer industry, which has seen a decline in both consumption and local production over the past 10-15 years.
This decline is particularly true given the brewing industry’s deep cultural roots in Latvia, mentioned in historical chronicles and celebrated in folk songs. Pļaviņš remarked that beer is part of the Latvian identity. Its decline is a sad development.
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