Global hop outlook: Hop acreage expands again in 2017, US expands 95.8% in five years

In an unprecedented growth rate of U.S. hop acreage, hops continue to be on the rise in the United States and across the globe as consumer tastes and demand for beer with higher hopping rates persist. Despite a decrease in overall beer production, demand for hops continues, as signaled by hop contracts thanks to a greater thirst for more heavily hopped beers.

While the continued demand for growth is, overall, good news for hop growers and brewers, it is not without some concern. The U.S. acreage has grown 75.5 percent in just four years. In 2012, USDA-NASS reported the total U.S. acreage was 29,683. For 2016, acreage amplified to 52,963. And, as reported in the International Hop Growers’ Convention (IHGC) April meeting, an additional 5,185 acres are anticipated to total 58,148 acres of hops in the United States for 2017.

If anticipated acreage is actualized, then in five years’ time, hop acreage in the United States will have practically doubled. Thanks to increased contracts with breweries and the rapid efficiency of U.S. growers who can respond so quickly to customer demand, hop acreage has risen 95.8 percent in five years. In total, since 2012, the U.S. has added 28,465 acres, including the estimated acreage as reported by IHGC, and has more than 50 varieties in the ground.

“To put it into perspective, the U.S. acres added in the last 5 years is larger than the total acreage of any other hop-growing country in the world, outside of our own and Germany, the two largest hop-producing countries. Further, our estimated 2017 acreage increase (5,185 acres — a 9.8 percent growth) by itself is larger than other individual countries’ total acreage outside of the U.S., Germany, and the Czech Republic,” said Ann George, the executive director of Hop Growers of America.

While the continued and rapid growth of acreage has some concerned about an imbalance in variety acreage as tastes change and growth in the craft segment begins to slow, growers will be looking to rebalance that over the coming years. To note, alpha acreage is projected to be increasing as well in the U.S. after many years of predominate aroma increases.

Overall, thanks to many more craft customers, and a seemingly unquenchable thirst for IPAs and other highly hopped beers, the result for U.S. growers is a far more stable market than in past years: high demand and a diversified customer base. As brewers are looking to plan for their hop requirements, responsible, realistic contracting is encouraged to keep supply and demand in proper balance for the 50-plus varieties being grown in the United States.

Learn the business of hops: Craft professionals share their advice from farming to contracting.

“When a brewery has a hop variety they depend on and is crucial to their operation, it is dangerous to rely solely on the spot market. Growers rely on forward contracts to plan their acreage for many years out into the future. However, contracting an excessive amount above their needs is not wise either as brewers can be left with expensive hops that they may not be able to sell to other brewers. Over-contracting can also lead to a surplus in the market which tends to discourage future investments in productive capacity and leads to increasing market instability. A surplus can be just as disruptive to the market as a shortage,” said Patrick Smith, vice president, B.T. Loftus Ranches Inc.

In addition to acreage increasing in the U.S., the stocks (amount left in storage with brewers, growers and merchants) are increasing as well. While the volume of hop stocks have been increasing every year — the USDA NASS March 2017 report showed a 9 percent increase, and a 7.5 percent increase the year before that — the overall production has grown in relation to the acreage increases. So, the percentage relative to the overall U.S. crop has gone down.

In addition to volumes of stocks increasing, there are also developing trends with the stock reports showing a rise in the amount of stocks being held with merchants, and less with brewers. As a perennial plant in which one harvest needs to last a full year of brewing demands, it is typical to have stocks larger than 100 percent of any given year’s production at this time of year.

“It is important to note that the amount of hop stocks which dealers are holding has increased,” added George. “Merchants are taking on increased risk as the proportion of stocks held in their possession has risen over 10% in the past three years. The stock report is another key signal to the market and we will continue to monitor these data trends.”

“Overall, we are excited with the rejuvenation of our industry over the last few years,” noted Smith. “Looking to the future, long-term stability in the supply-demand balance and pricing is in the best interest of brewers and growers alike. This is best achieved through frequent communication and responsible contracting between brewers and their hop suppliers.”

Stat sources:

• USA Hops 2016 Stat Pack
• USDA NASS March 1 Hop Stocks Report
• International Hop Growers’ Convention April 2017 Economic Commission Report

Hop Growers of America (HGA) promotes American-grown hops to brewers and industry both domestically and internationally. HGA facilitates conversations between growers, merchants, and brewers, providing statistical reports to the industry and education on the quality, variety, and tradition of U.S. grown hops.