Cider Market

Key data points: Market size in 2027 = $14.3 billion and 2035 = $20.1 billion, growth forecast = 3.4% annually for the next 8 years. Scroll below to get more insights. This market report covers trends, opportunities and forecasts in cider market to 2035 by ingredient type (apple cider, mixed fruit cider, and others), alcohol content (low alcohol and high alcohol), packaging format (bottles and cans), distribution channel (on-trade and off-trade), and region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World) Cider Market The future of the global cider market looks promising with opportunities in the on-trade and off-trade markets. The global cider market is expected to reach an estimated $20.1 billion by 2035 from $14.3 billion in 2027 with a CAGR of 3.4% from 2027 to 2035. The major drivers for this market are the increasing demand for flavored alcoholic beverages, the rising preference for low calorie drinks, and the growing consumption of craft cider products. • Lucintel forecasts that, within the ingredient type category, apple cider will remain a larger segment over the forecast period due to growing consumer preference for natural and flavorful ingredients. • Within the distribution channel category, off-trade will remain a larger segment over the forecast period due to convenient purchasing and wider availability. • In terms of regions, Europe will remain the largest region over the forecast period due to established markets and strong consumer demand for products. Gain valuable insights for your business decisions with our comprehensive 150+ page report. Sample figures with some insights are shown below. Emerging Trends in Cider Market The cider market is moving from a niche alcoholic beverage to a more inclusive portfolio category. During this period, 2025 through 2027, producers of cider will begin to refine recipes for low-alcohol before introducing more formats of premium alcohol concentrations while also focusing on packaging more efficiently. Lucintel’s perspective on the market is that regional diversification and innovation of products will be the main drivers for future growth. • Premiumization: In 2025, it was noticeable that there were various Craft and barrel-aged ciders you could find as well as ciders that contained provenance on the label. Brands such as Aspall and Thatchers showcased British Apple Orchards. Moreover, ciders that contained higher alcohol content were priced higher than those that contained lower alcohol content. Even with increases in price per volume, ciders of higher alcohol content are still increasing in popularity. • Low- and No-alcohol Reformulation: In 2025, Heineken began publishing their Sustainability Report and cited that the change to a more moderate level of consumption was a permanent shift in customer behavior. Currently, the trend of low- and non-alcohol consumption continues. It will likely take three to five years after the reformulation of packaging to see if this segment of the market will consistently purchase low-alcohol ciders. • Sustainable Packaging: Many cider producers are opting for reducing the weight of cider packaging and backfills while utilizing more recycled materials. Packaging that is more sustainable comes with an increased cost to the producer, this will lead to the more rapid adoption of different formats of packaging within cider packaging, especially in grocery and hospitality stores. • Digital Manufacturing: The automation of bottling and data-driven systems is occurs in modern cidermills. 2025 modern filling machines can fill up to 40,000 bottles every hour. This reduces batch variation and reliance on human labor. This will allow small producers to scale their product. • Regional Supply Diversification: Balancing domestic and imported fruit is one way European producers addressed climate extremes. Apple supply from multiple countries is expected to become even more volatile. Procurement from multiple orchards will improve the availability and stability of the apple supply in the face of climate change. While new products that satisfy the existing sweet taste are expected to contribute less to cider market growth, cider will be able to appeal to a greater number of occasions by adopting new packaging and product formats that encourage responsible consumption. Volatile supply of fruit will differentiate premium from commodity cider. Cider producers that pair an authentic orchard with a disciplined manufacturing process will likely be rewarded by retailers. Retailers will support cider offerings that consistently deliver incremental margin. Recent Developments in the Cider Market Activities involving the cider market are predicted to increase during the 2025-2027 time period due to the expansion of the shelves for premium products, the refresh of brewer product lines, and the increasing number of investments in products with low alcohol content by producers. Lucintel's market opinion is aligned with the focus on the innovation of differentiated flavors and the improvement of packaging while the volatile weather and the changes in the tax system threaten profit margins. • Premium Cider and Flavors - Producers are innovating their cider lines and extending them beyond the apple varietal by introducing flavored ciders with barrel aged, pear, berry, and botanical variants, attracting more consumers of spirits and craft beverages. According to Heineken, Strongbow introduced several innovations across different markets in 2025, inclusively flavors and non-alcohol variants (June 2025). The innovations extend drinking occasions and justify higher prices in the next 3 to 5 years. • Investment in Non-Alcohol and Low-Alcohol- Heineken's 0.0 alcohol cider was introduced as a limited offering and by 2025, it was offered in more than 100 countries and had improved distribution across cider markets (February 2025). The dominant brands will be forced to innovate in the non-alcohol segment and create new offerings that fulfill a demand for more health-conscious and daytime consumption cider. • Packaging and Production- Cider producers are building operations that will gain efficiencies and reduce costs by focusing on lighter weights, efficient and recyclable packaging, and operations with low energy use. C&C Group reported a €15 million investment in production and infrastructure for the 2025 fiscal year (May 2025). Retail focus on packaged goods and carbon emissions will benefit these producers due to lower costs and greater compliance. • Consolidation in Route-to-market: To gain tap and premium tap access, brewers are acquiring or partnering with distributors. Carlsberg, with the February 2025 closing of its combination with Britvic, now has a beverage group spanning more than 20 countries. As the industry consolidates, cider brands can gain economies of scale to negotiate for shelf space. • Climate and Orchard Resilience: Unpredictable harvests are focused more on securing long-term grower contracts, sourcing from a variety of locations, and orchard research. As of August 2025, the USDA estimated 2025 apple production at ~257 million bushels. The security of the supply of apples will influence the prices, consistency, and predictability of cider and the investment decisions for cider for the next 10 years. Overall, growth in the cider market will be driven less by volume and more by quality of the distributed products, cider portfolio, and secure fruit supply in the coming years. Premium products should become more profitable as should offerings of alcohol-free ciders. However, excise duties and premise packing should inhibit any significant gains in profitability in this market. Regional producers will continue to be the more traditional and authentic cider manufacturers, while larger consolidated groups have funding advantages. Success will rely on local sourcing for fruits with amenable production and the use of branding to define specific occasions. Strategic Growth Opportunities in the Cider Market The market for cider is in a strategically significant phase between 2024 and 2026, as consumers are more likely to purchase low alcoholic drinks, and retail outlets are dedicated to expanding their premium offerings. According to Lucintel, the optimal ways to generate extra revenue are likely to be innovation of products, flexible production within regions, and different drinking occasions, where cider is able to successfully rival beer, wine, and pre-mixed drinks. • Premium and Craft Cider: Commercially, premium and craft ciders can command higher prices if producers use apple varieties of known origin, barrel aging, and so on. In April 2025, Heineken reported positive growth on their premium cider portfolio, which supports the likelihood of higher investment in differentiated products for the next three to five years. • Low Alcohol and No Alcohol Cider: This segment of the market can be penetrated by producing low alcohol variants of cider, with major volumetric increases for no alcohol drinks anticipated for 2025 by IWSR (January 2025). As a result, the number of drinking occasions will increase in many venues. • Expanding To New Markets: Local partnerships and adapted packaging ciders should be targeted for China, and other emerging markets in the Asia-Pacific region and Middle East. While China’s estimated nonalcoholic beverage market was expected to be over RMB 300 billion in 2025 (March 2025), it provides a potentially large alcohol-free cider market. • Focus on Sustainability: The use of recyclable materials and more sustainable apple sourcing can lower cost, meet new standards, and improve packaging across the supply chain. The new regulations for Packaging and Packaging Waste in the EU in February 2025 will most likely result in more purchasing of compliant packaging. • Digital Direct-to-consumer Sales: Using the latest direct-to-consumer digital sales methods can help personalize your customer experience and gather preference data. Up to 12 percent of all alcohol purchased in the UK was bought online by June 2025. This leaves ample room for cider producer focused digital channels. By using digital channels to sell cider and alcohol, greatest returns come from premium cider sales and careful selection of selling channels. Low/no alcohol products help retain consumers, as does the use of safe and sustainable packaging to protect retailer sale and profitability. Geographic expansion must consider local preferences and cannot be achieved by simple product exports. Digital sales should complement existing hospitality and grocery partnerships. In 2030, producers who measure how quickly they recoup their investments and sell products that improve packaging efficiency will gain most profitability. Cider Market Drivers and Challenges Factors driving cider market growth include shifting consumer demand, innovative technologies, economic factors, sustainability and environmental considerations, and regulations. There are favorable influences and unfavorable constraints that affect market growth such as demand for innovative, Low- alcohol products and increasing inflation, supply-chain and environmental pressures, and taxation. Lucintel's market outlook reveals how these challenges and demand influences cider market competitiveness. The drivers of the cider market include: • Premiumization and Product Innovation: Demand for craft cider, barrel aged cider, fruit infused and botanical ciders as well as organic ciders is growing, leading to the creation of new innovative cider product offerings. In the three to five year Forecast period premium packaging with novel and limited offerings of expensive ciders is predicted to help cider gain market share. • Low Alcohol Products: There is growing demand for low alcohol cider for those who wish to moderate their alcohol intake without complete abstinence. In 2025, product offerings of alcohol free ciders in supermarkets, restaurants and online stores will be an increasing trend. This trend will continue to drive the cider market until 2030 due to continued demand for a variety of offerings because of improved alcohol free cider technology. • Digital Commerce and Premium Distribution: Innovation in digital marketing has made it easier for a cider brand to sell directly to consumers through e-commerce. In 2025, online grocery sales represented over 10% of total grocery sales in several developed countries. In the next three to five years, better logistics and analytics will drive retail personalization and rely less on conventional distribution. • Sustainability and Local Sourcing: Customers and retail stores show preference for cider brands with local apples, better packaging, renewable energy, and lower carbon footprint logistics. March 2025 regulatory efforts and retailer sustainability goals created incentives for beverage companies to use lighter and more easily recyclable packaging. In the next three to five years, this will increase customer trust, create brand differentiation, and lead to an increase in investment in orchards and more efficient cider production and packaging. • Manufacturing Efficiency and Technology: Automation and advances in filtration, data analytics, and precision fermentation have made it easier for beverage producers to control labor and costs associated with energy and water. In 2025, many beverage producers began to use fully automated systems for inspection and packaging that operated continuously across multiple production shifts. These changes will lead to a stronger, more efficient market for premium cider with minimal waste over the next three to five years. This Market encounters : • Raw Material Volatility: Due to changes in weather, chemicals can impact the quality of apples and their pricing, which makes the harvesting process more volatile. Monitoring of severe weather in April of 2025 identified agricultural regions that have an increased risk of drought combined with frost. Over the next 3 to 5 years, producers should expect that changes in the climate will increase the cost of procurement and cause producers to implement contract farming and diversify the supply by growing different varieties of apples in different and more concentrated regions. • Regulatory and Tax Pressure: Shifting regulations and increased taxes on alcohol create challenges and increase the costs for producers when they label their products and comply with regulations. In February of 2025, several different producers were facing higher taxes on alcohol and changed regulations to comply with regulations, but it created increased planning uncertainty. Challenges created by regulations and taxes will affect the Market until 2030 because the fragmentation of regulations will negatively affect the ability of producers to sell their goods across borders, and consumers will be unwilling to purchase goods if they are too expensive. • Intense Competition and Margin Pressure: Competition in the market for Cider includes beer, wine, other spirits, hard seltzers, cocktails in a variety of forms, and drinks that do not contain alcohol. In 2025, retail stores that sell goods increased their stock of ready to drink beverage options, and competition for the best location in the retail stores and the best promotions increased. In the next 3 to 5 years, producers will face an increase in inflation combined with the growth of competition. Premium, low-alcohol cider has changed the cider industry. Distribution has grown through digital channels, with new markets opening through sustainably packaged, and technologically advanced cider. However, supply risks due to climate change, constant regulation, taxation, competition, and pricing pressures lead to a shrinking margin. Innovation and affordable pricing may allow improvement in one area, but it takes investment into flexible compliance and sourcing. In the coming years, companies that lead the cider market will likely be companies that use a combination of unique products, responsible operations, and clever compliance practices coupled with the best distribution. List of Cider Market Companies Companies in the market compete on the basis of product quality offered. Major players in this market focus on expanding their manufacturing facilities, R&D investments, infrastructural development, and leverage integration opportunities across the value chain. Through these strategies cider market companies cater increasing demand, ensure competitive effectiveness, develop innovative products & technologies, reduce production costs, and expand their customer base. Some of the cider market companies profiled in this report include- • Heineken N.V. • C and C Group plc • Carlsberg Group • Molson Coors Beverage Co. • Anheuser-Busch InBev • Asahi Group Holdings • Kopparbergs Brewery • Aston Manor • Boston Beer Co. • Seattle Cider Co. Cider Market by Segment The study includes a forecast for the global cider market by ingredient type, alcohol content, packaging format, distribution channel, and region. Cider Market by Ingredient Type [Value ($B) from 2019 to 2035]: • Apple Cider • Mixed Fruit Cider • Others Cider Market by Alcohol Content [Value ($B) from 2019 to 2035]: • Low Alcohol • High Alcohol Cider Market by Packaging Format [Value ($B) from 2019 to 2035]: • Bottles • Cans Cider Market by Distribution Channel [Value ($B) from 2019 to 2035]: • On-Trade • Off-Trade Cider Market by Region [Value ($B) from 2019 to 2035]: • North America • Europe • Asia Pacific • The Rest of the World Country Wise Outlook for the Cider Market The cider market is influenced by factors like packaging regulations, premiumization, and multinational groups’ investment in their product lines. By 2025, EU packaging requirements will begin to favor recyclable formats, and producers in Asia will move to modern trade channels. According to Lucintel, these shifts will continue to be important to companies’ strategies for the next five years. • United States: Boston Beer company (which produces Angry Orchard) launched new variants in 2025; hard cider’s 7.0% alcohol threshold is considered significant and has encouraged producers to create products in the lower excise classification. The American Cider Association is advocating for federal hard-cider tax reforms. • China: China Resources and Heineken are continuing their joint venture across brewing, distribution, and brand building. Domestic companies are continuing to produce alcoholic beverages; the beer market in China crossed 350 million hectoliters in 2024. This development will allow companies to produce cider in China as the necessary infrastructure is established. • Germany: 2025 will see the Deposit Return Scheme go into effect; the statutory deposit for single-use beverage packaging is set at €0.25. With this scheme in effect, cider producers are moving to recyclable cans and bottles. Rotkäppchen-Mumm is one of the beverage groups that has long been established in the market and continues to have a strong presence. This group’s presence will shape the market for the next five years. • India: The Indian unit of Som Distilleries entered the cider category and focused on expanding its manufacturing and distribution across India. The company posted sales of around INR 1,076 crore for FY2024-25. This will further strengthen the cider manufacturing capabilities in India and support local brands to sell in modern retail stores over the medium term. • Japan: The Japanese companies Suntory and Asahi launched drinks containing fruit along with lower alcoholic content. The major Japan retail outlets started offering more space on their shelves for premium alcohol. Japan's alcoholic beverage tax reform in 2023 reduced the beer tax to ¥54.25 per 350 ml can. This tax reform created a more convenient environment for category innovation and the placement of cider alongside other drinks of similar nature to create an easy to drink refreshing environment. Features of the Global Cider Market Market Size Estimates: cider market size estimation in terms of value ($B). Trend and Forecast Analysis: Market trends (2019 to 2026) and forecast (2027 to 2035) by various segments and regions. Segmentation Analysis: cider market size by various segments, such as by ingredient type, alcohol content, packaging format, distribution channel, and region in terms of value ($B). Regional Analysis: cider market breakdown by North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World. Growth Opportunities: Analysis of growth opportunities in different ingredient types, alcohol content, packaging format, distribution channels, and regions for the cider market. Strategic Analysis: This includes M&A, new product development, and competitive landscape of the cider market. Analysis of competitive intensity of the industry based on Porter’s Five Forces model. If you are looking to expand your business in this or adjacent markets, then contact us. We have done hundreds of strategic consulting projects in market entry, opportunity screening, due diligence, supply chain analysis, M & A, and more. This report answers following 11 key questions: Q.1. What are some of the most promising, high-growth opportunities for the cider market by ingredient type (apple cider, mixed fruit cider, and others), alcohol content (low alcohol and high alcohol), packaging format (bottles and cans), distribution channel (on-trade and off-trade), and region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World)? Q.2. Which segments will grow at a faster pace and why? Q.3. Which region will grow at a faster pace and why? Q.4. What are the key factors affecting market dynamics? What are the key challenges and business risks in this market? Q.5. What are the business risks and competitive threats in this market? Q.6. What are the emerging trends in this market and the reasons behind them? Q.7. What are some of the changing demands of customers in the market? Q.8. What are the new developments in the market? Which companies are leading these developments? Q.9. Who are the major players in this market? What strategic initiatives are key players pursuing for business growth? Q.10. What are some of the competing products in this market and how big of a threat do they pose for loss of market share by material or product substitution? Q.11. What M&A activity has occurred in the last 5 years and what has its impact been on the industry?