Irish Cider Market Report 2019

Drinks Ireland | Cider has produced a cider market report to highlight the performance of the sector in 2019. The data in this report predates the impact of Covid-19 but it highlights the need for support for the sector as it faces uncertain times in the months and years ahead.

Cider drinkers in Ireland continue to enjoy an unprecedented selection of cider brands from both craft cider producers and some well-established drinks manufacturers, scattered throughout the country. However, total cider sales in 2019 decreased by 1.7% with over 63 million litres of cider sold. It is the first decline in sales since 2015. It is estimated that over 50,000 tonnes of apples are used every year to manufacture cider in Ireland. Per capita consumption of cider declined by 0.47% which is in line with an overall trend of total alcohol consumption decline.

Today, cider is still Ireland’s third most popular alcohol beverage behind beer and wine, once the spirits category is split into its different variants (such as whiskey, vodka and gin). Cider’s market share of total alcohol sales declined marginally from 7.5% in 2018 to 7.4% in 2019.