Heineken Warns of Falling Beer Sales Amid Global Economic Headwinds

Dutch brewing giant Heineken has warned that its beer sales will likely fall in 2025 as global economic pressures deepen, Reuters reports.

In a statement on Wednesday, the company said it expects beer volumes to “decline modestly” next year, marking a further downgrade from its earlier forecast of stable sales.

Heineken’s shares tumbled more than 8% in July after it warned investors that volumes would remain flat rather than grow, and the latest outlook adds to investor concerns about slowing demand.

The brewer posted a 0.3% decline in third-quarter net revenues, slightly better than analysts’ expectations of a 0.8% drop. It also said its annual organic operating profit would come in at the lower end of its 4% to 8% guidance range.

Weak consumer demand in Latin America and Europe weighed on third-quarter sales, as trade tensions in key markets such as Brazil and a pricing dispute with European retailers eroded Heineken’s shelf presence.

While major brewers have relied on price hikes to offset lower sales volumes in recent years, analysts say investors are now increasingly focused on the actual quantity of beer sold, raising fresh concerns about long-term growth in the global beer industry.