A beer in Munich, August 17, 2022 ©BelgaImage
German brewers and bottlers are worried about an impending carbon dioxide shortage, a direct result of the war in Ukraine. A worrying development since the country is the leading European beer producer.
Less fertilizer, less carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is used to control the production of beer foam, but it also ensures bottling and a good flow from the tap. There are often shortages of carbon dioxide during the summer months. Carbon dioxide is a by-product of fertilizer production. During the summer months there is often less supply of fertilizer. But this year, the situation is much more serious. Fertilizer producers have made significant adjustments to their production due to historically high gasoline prices.
German bottlers and brewers can only count on 30-40% of their usual stocks. “The impact is dramatic for many companies“, said Holger Eichele, CEO of the German Brewers Association. Sparkling water producers, for example, are also sounding the alarm.”In many companies, production has decreased“, they warn.