Geography of World Hop Production 1990–2019
Jan Kubeš
Abstract
Described in the article is the territorial distribution of the area of cultivated hops and hop production by the countries of the world, including the development and the grounds for their distribution. In the monitored period, the world area of cultivated hops decreased significantly, by more than a quarter. However, world hop production has grown little due to a substantial increase in hop yields. The area of cultivated hops and hop production are currently highly concentrated in the nine main hop producing countries. Roughly two thirds of the current area and three quarters of current production worldwide is attributable to the USA and Germany. Production increased in New Zealand, the USA, and to a lesser extent in Germany and Poland, while Australia, Czechia, Slovenia and especially China and the United Kingdom reduced production. Hop growing is very important for the agriculture of Germany, Czechia, and in particular Slovenia. These countries have the highest values of monitored hop indicators per capita, including hop export. The development of hop production in the coming years will depend on the introduction of new high-yielding hop varieties and enlargement or reduction of the area of cultivated hops in connection with hop price changes, profitability of hop growing and demand of breweries.