跨界“搅局者”来了白酒巨头进军啤酒圈

Core Viewpoint - Major Chinese liquor companies are entering the craft beer market, aiming to tap into a rapidly growing segment of the beer industry, which is projected to exceed 100 billion yuan by 2025 [1][4]. Industry Overview - The Chinese beer market is undergoing significant structural adjustments, with overall production declining. In the first half of 2025, production from large-scale breweries was 19.04 million kiloliters, a year-on-year decrease of 0.3% [2]. - Traditional beer production has been declining for five consecutive years, with 2024 production at 35.21 million kiloliters, down 30% from the peak of 50.62 million kiloliters in 2013 [2]. - The market is highly concentrated, with five major players—China Resources Beer, Tsingtao Brewery, Budweiser APAC, Yanjing Beer, and Chongqing Beer—holding over 90% of the market share [2]. - The low-end beer market is shrinking, while mid-range and premium products are expected to drive future growth [2]. High-End Beer Performance - High-end beer products are experiencing growth, with Chongqing Beer reporting a 0.04% increase in revenue from high-end products (priced above 8 yuan) to 5.265 billion yuan [3]. - Yanjing Beer saw a 9.32% increase in revenue from mid-to-high-end products, reaching 5.536 billion yuan, with their gross margin improving by 6.25 percentage points to 51.71% [3]. Craft Beer Market Growth - The craft beer segment is rapidly expanding, with the market size projected to grow from 42.8 billion yuan in 2022 to 68 billion yuan in 2024, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 26.7% [4]. - By 2025, the craft beer market is expected to surpass 104 billion yuan, driven by changing consumer preferences towards quality over quantity [4]. Profitability and Consumer Trends - Craft beer generally has a gross margin of 55% to 65%, which is 15% to 20% higher than that of industrial beer [5]. - The Z generation (born 1995-2009) is becoming the main consumer group, shifting the focus from traditional social drinking to personal enjoyment and quality experiences [5][6]. White Liquor Companies Entering Craft Beer - Major liquor companies like Zhenjiu Lidou and Wuliangye are launching craft beer products to capture market share. Zhenjiu Lidou's "Niu Shi News" craft beer gained significant attention during its launch, with over 190 million views online [7]. - Wuliangye's new craft beer brand "Fenghuolun" is priced at 19.5 yuan per bottle, marking its entry into the mid-to-high-end craft beer market [7]. - Luzhou Laojiao has been active in the craft beer sector since 2021, focusing on high-end craft beer products and expanding its market presence [8]. Strategic Insights - The entry of liquor companies into the craft beer market leverages existing brand resources and distribution networks, aiming for new growth opportunities [8]. - Analysts suggest that these companies should adopt differentiated strategies to avoid direct competition with established beer giants, focusing on high-end branding and leveraging mature distribution channels [8].