Brewer AB InBev sells less beer but reports record revenue
AB InBev, the world’s largest brewer, saw beer sales decline by 2 per cent last year yet still achieved record revenue, the Leuven-based company announced on Wednesday.
In 2024, the company sold 575.7 million hectolitres of beer and other beverages, a 1.4 per cent decrease compared to the previous year. Sales of its own beer brands fell by 2 per cent to 495.5 million hectolitres.
The company attributed the drop to a “weak consumer climate in China and Argentina”. Excluding those markets, it recorded a 0.9 per cent increase in volume sales.
Revenue rise
Revenue per hectolitre, however, rose by 4.3 per cent, driven by “disciplined pricing strategies and premiumisation”. As beer prices increased, AB InBev’s total revenue reached a record 59.8 billion dollars (57 billion euros), up 2.7 per cent from 2023.
The company’s normalised EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) rose by more than 8 per cent to 20.9 billion dollar, while net profit increased by 7.6 per cent to 7.4 billion dollar.
The board of directors has proposed a dividend of 1 euro per share.
Growth plans
AB InBev says it plans to invest in long-term growth and expects its EBITDA to increase “in line with our medium-term outlook of 4 per cent to 8 per cent growth”.
The brewing giant is best known for brands such as Corona, Budweiser, Stella Artois, Jupiler and Leffe. It employs approximately 144,000 people worldwide and is listed on the Brussels Stock Exchange as part of the Bel20 index.
© BELGA PHOTO BENOIT DOPPAGNE
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