Good afternoon,

Linked below is the Import-Export Report for April 2019.

Here are a few key findings:

• Imported beer volume increased by 8.8% during April 2019.
• Imports are up 1.8% year-to-date through April, outpacing domestic beer shipment volume, which decreased by 0.4% during the same period.
• Combining imports and domestic beer shipments, the total U.S. beer supply is now flat year-to-date through April 2019.
• Mexican import volume was up 9.5% during April and 3.0% year-to-date.
• Netherlands import volume was up 24% in April, following two months of declines.  Imports from Netherlands are down 2.2% year-to-date.
• Imports from some countries have shown wide swings in performance thus far in 2019.  It is important to remember, such volatility in import volume is common, especially for beers traveling by ship.
• The U.S. dollar continued to appreciate versus other major currencies in April, making foreign goods, such as imported beer, relatively less expensive and contributing to the continued growth of imported beer volume.

If you have any questions, please reach out.

Cheers,

Michael Uhrich
Chief Economist