If you want to get straight to the details, you can…

Download BarthHaas Hop Report 2022/2023 (PDF)

…or you can read our summary below.

In 2022, global hop acreage declined for the first time in eight years, with global hop production decreasing 19%. Aroma hops share of global hop production decreased, but their share of alpha acid increased. The exact opposite was the case for bittering hops. 

Hop acreage in Australia increased for the ninth year in a row through new plantings in Victoria beginning to reach commercial maturity, with Galaxy share of acreage reaching 60%, followed by Vic Secret with 18% and Eclipse with 9%. In Germany, Herkules increased it’s share of acreage to 35%, followed by Perle with 16% and Hallertau Tradition with 14%. And in the US, Citra increased it’s share of acreage to 20%, followed by Mosaic with 11% and Cascade with 9%.

All regions experienced cool and wet conditions that delayed the development of hop plants early in the growing season. This resulted in localised flooding in Australia, as well as thunderstorms, hailstorms and severe winds in Germany towards the end of spring that caused some damage, particularly to new plantings. Above average temperatures and below average rainfall in summer aided cone maturation in Australia, but caused the plants to show drought stress symptoms including underdeveloped alpha acids in Germany. The US also recorded underdeveloped cone size for several varieties.

Despite the below-average harvest in 2022 the market is still in surplus with call-offs of contracted products being significantly delayed. This indicates the social and economic effects of the Coronavirus pandemic and geopolitical conflict are still presenting the hop and brewing industries with corresponding challenges. It was expected that global beer production might further decline in 2022. Instead, it increased by 1.3 %.

With the costs of energy, raw materials and labor soaring, brewers’ profit margins are shrinking. In order to counter this, appropriate action is being taken, including the introduction of cost-saving measures. No exceptions are being made when it comes to hops, with clear trends toward higher alpha varieties at the expense of aroma varieties, and growing demand for more efficient hop products.

A bit about BarthHaas:

HPA are regional representatives of the global BarthHaas group, which is the world’s largest supplier of hop products and services.

BarthHaas operates across all continents, providing support to its members along the whole value supply chain: from breeding and growing through to processing and the marketing of hops and hop products.

Their innovation centres, Barth Innovations in the UK and Haas Innovations in the US, are dedicated to research and development. We have access to their results, which means our customers can take advantage of the full potential of hops. Because your beer is our passion.