U.S. brewers shipped an estimated 15 million barrels of beer in May 2021, an +8.9% increase (more than 1.2 million barrels) compared to May 2020, according to the Beer Institute (BI), citing unofficial estimates of domestic tax paid shipments from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB).
May 2021 marked the largest month of shipments so far, just ahead of the important summer selling season. Compare that to May 2020, when shipments declined more than 1.45 million barrels as the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic shutting down the on-premise channel began to be felt. Total 2020 shipments ended up about flat (+0.6%) at nearly 168.4 million barrels.
Shipments have now increased every month in 2021: January (+5.3%), February (+3.3%), March (+0.9%) and April (+8.6%).
Through the first five months of 2021, U.S. brewers have shipped nearly 69.3 million barrels of beer, a 5.4% increase (or 3,552,532 barrels) year-over-year.
The June 2021 domestic tax paid estimate is slated to release on July 29.