Namibia's two breweries, Namibia Breweries (NBL) and ABInBev Namibia, produced 21.3 million liters of alcoholic beverages in August, marking the highest monthly production index in the first eight months of the year. This represents a 17.1% increase from July's 181,646 hectoliters and a 13.6% rise compared to August 2025. The production index for August stood at 126 million liters, up from 107.6 million liters in July and 117.9 in January.
The significant increase in production comes amid relatively high alcohol consumption in Namibia. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Namibia's total alcohol consumption in 2022 was estimated at 12 liters of pure alcohol per person aged 15 and older per year, compared to the African average of 3.5 liters and the global average of five liters. This high consumption rate may be contributing to the growth in production.
Alcoholic beverages accounted for approximately 65.3% of Namibia's total beverage production in August, while non-alcoholic beverages made up the remaining 34.7%. The production of alcoholic beverages reached 212,708 hectoliters, whereas non-alcoholic beverages totaled 113,086 hectoliters, equivalent to around 11.3 million liters. This marks a stark contrast to the soft drink industry, which experienced a 31.9% year-on-year decline in August.
Despite the growth in alcoholic beverage production, the overall beverage production in Namibia has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels. Total production increased by 26.1% month-on-month to 325,794 hectoliters, but remained 7.8% below the 353,386 hectoliters recorded in August 2025. The recovery in production is evident, with the index rising from 85.8 million liters in March to 126 million liters in August.
Namibia's beverage exports also saw significant growth, with 55,100 hectoliters of beverages exported in August, more than double the 26,019 hectoliters recorded in the same month last year. This represents a 112% increase. Beer dominated the export market, accounting for 87.2% of alcoholic beverage exports, with 47,867 hectoliters shipped to various countries.
South Africa remained Namibia's largest export destination for beverages, accounting for 75.3% of total exports, followed by Tanzania with 9.9% and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with 9.3%. On the import side, Namibia brought in 163,990 hectoliters of beverages in August, a 35.6% increase from the 120,935 hectoliters recorded in August 2025.
The growth in beverage production and exports is a positive sign for Namibia's economy, which has been recovering from the impacts of the pandemic. As the industry continues to grow, it will be essential to monitor the trends and challenges facing the sector, including the high alcohol consumption rates in the country.
Key points
- Alcoholic beverage production in Namibia surged to 21.3 million liters in August, marking the highest monthly production index in the first eight months of the year.
