UK beer exports in the 1970s (part two)

Here, as promised, is a breakdown of exports by individual country, rather than by continent.  Starting with Europe.  Which was, as we’ve already seen, by far the largest importer of UK beer.

Belgium was by far the most popular destination for UK beer. In the period covered, it took between 60% and 70% of exports to Europe.

The next two biggest customers, the Netherlands and West Germany, only managed between 15% and 20% combined. Special mention should go to Gibraltar, which, given its tiny size, was importing an impressive quantity of beer.

I’m a bit puzzled as to precisely which beers were being exported to Germany. And for whom. Was this just standard UK beer being shipped to NAAFIs (military canteens) for the British Army on the Rhine? Most UK beer wouldn’t have been allowed on sale in Germany as it wasn’t Reinheitsgebot-compliant.

Considering their geographical proximity, the UK’s two closest neighbours, France and Ireland didn’t import a great deal of UK beer. In the case of Ireland, most of the traffic was going in the opposite direction. 

UK beer exports to Europe 1971 - 1975
Country of Destination	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975
Belgium	154,178	170,091	186,729	194,368	226,203
Denmark	2,395	995	1,395	827	658
France	4,065	4,940	5,250	8,779	7,965
Republic of Ireland	10,219	14,446	15,140	14,766	6,478
Italy	1,411	1,587	1,804	2,545	4,186
Netherlands	9,392	29,326	30,631	26,930	30,031
W. Germany	36,647	22,872	20,180	26,394	23,867
Cyprus	8,722	7,583	6,641	7,771	2,035
Gibraltar	13,112	11,667	10,930	10,266	11,742
Greece	375	399	354	353	334
Norway	978	835	1,345	1,320	1,393
Spain	904	978	1,213	1,625	2,091
Sweden	5,767	3,275	2,329	1,899	1,695
Switzerland	1,708	967	1,042	1,127	998
Total Europe	249,873	269,961	284,983	298,970	319,676
Source:
“The Brewers' Society Statistical Handbook 1980” page 14.

UK beer exports to Europe 1976 - 1980
Country of Destination	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980
Belgium	212,872	179,085	181,963	193,759	166,396
Denmark	779	905	706	822	3,413
France	9,757	13,927	11,406	14,160	14,608
Republic of Ireland	9,819	14,828	10,850	9,849	19,388
Italy	5,161	8,072	9,981	12,818	16,302
Netherlands	24,792	29,040	30,342	25,954	24,534
W. Germany	25,293	27,499	30,876	25,146	19,202
Cyprus	3,416	3,178	1,701	1,556	1,022
Gibraltar	8,786	7,845	6,802	10,729	6,594
Greece	1,568	1,058	787	535	89
Norway	1,273	1,227	2,142	277	302
Spain	2,194	3,716	2,775	4,563	2,506
Sweden	1,542	1,901	1,570	1,956	2,021
Switzerland	1,050	1,308	971	939	1,209
Total Europe	308,302	293,589	292,872	303,063	277,586
Source:
“The Brewers' Society Statistical Handbook 1980” page 14.