UK beer imports Imports 1936 - 1965

On the face of it, the UK had a big trade deficit in beer, importing around 1 million barrels more than it exported. But it’s not quite as simple as that. As more than 1 million barrels of those imports came from a country not so far away: Ireland. And the vast majority of that beer was Guinness Extra Stout.

Initially, only tiny amounts were imported from elsewhere, fewer than 50,000 barrels.

The amount of beer coming in started to rise from the middle of the 1950s, mostly due to a jump in imports from Denmark. So loads of Carlsberg and Tuborg.

That the numbers fell again after 1960 is probably attributable to one factor: Carlsberg starting to brew in the UK.

It’s safe to assume that almost 100% of the beer imported from Continental Europe was Lager of some kind.

UK beer imports 1936 - 1953
Country of Origin	1938	1950	1951	1952	1953
Irish Republic	836,624	1,031,159	1,025,902	1,023,031	1,088,076
Other British Countries	108	22	31	133	422
Total British Countries	836,732	1,031,181	1,025,933	1,023,164	1,088,498
Denmark	25,459	17,686	23,058	30,959	36,410
Germany	18,813	-	-	-	2,307
Netherlands	8,708	2,685	3,492	5,905	8,910
Belgium	821	700	1,150	2,136	2,205
Czechoslovakia	3,810	915	903	702	713
Other Foreign Countries	278	224	1,703	1,922	244
Total Foreign Countries	57,895	22,110	30,306	41,624	50,879
Total Bulk Barrels	894,627	1,053,291	1,056,239	1,064,788	1,139,377
Total Standard Barrels	856,331
Source:
“1955 Brewers' Almanack”, page 60.

UK beer imports 1954 - 1959
Country of Origin	1954	1955	1956	1957	1958	1959
Irish Republic	1,099,717	1,166,980	1,281,064	1,234,214	1,196,066	1,232,946
Other British Countries	408	689	100	317	486	601
Total British Countries	1,100,125	1,167,669	1,281,164	1,234,531	1,197,152	1,233,547
Denmark	45,238	77,125	98,216	139,682	154,726	209,244
Germany	4,366	6,651	7,627	10,272	9,372	13,523
Netherlands	9,560	17,707	21,540	26,549	24,564	28,473
Belgium	1,024	3,181	4,349	7,138	8,180	13,084
Norway	-	-	-	1,215	1,586	3,075
Czechoslovakia	688	16	140	1,033	935	1,164
Sweden	-	-	-	662	692	734
Other Foreign Countries	384	505	1,101	266	145	352
Total Foreign Countries	62,160	105,185	132,973	186,817	200,200	260,049
Total Bulk Barrels	1,162,285	1,272,854	1,414,137	1,421,348	1,397,352	1,503,196
Source:
“1962 Brewers' Almanack”, page 58.

UK beer imports 1960 - 1965
Country of Origin	1960	1961	1962	1963	1964	1965
Irish Republic	1,257,695	1,329,752	1,245,451	1,215,539	1,281,126	1,215,168
Other British Countries	940	1,740	2,303	3,793	3,007	3,344
Total British Countries	1,258,635	1,331,492	1,247,758	1,219,332	1,284,133	1,218,512
Denmark	184,076	178,975	148,018	149,974	159,164	143,189
Germany	7,476	8,926	7,601	9,805	13,925	12,485
Netherlands	27,444	28,077	21,212	23,321	28,245	28,363
Belgium	8,704	8,907	8,391	5,303	5,803	5,053
Norway	3,019	2,390	2,308	3,887	4,491	6,081
Czechoslovakia	1,174	1,083	1,038	922	1,391	1,276
Sweden	1063	670	578	1,112	459	460
Other Foreign Countries	402	655	589	853	1,392	1,166
Total Foreign Countries	233,358	229,689	189,795	195,177	214,870	198,073
Total Bulk Barrels	1,491,993	1,561,181	1,437,553	1,414,509	1,499,003	1,416,585
Source:
“1971 Brewers' Almanack”, page 55.

The above is an excerpt from my overly detailed look at post-war UK brewing, Austerity!

http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/austerity/23181344

Which is now also available in Kindle format.