By Jennifer Creery.
Anheuser-Busch InBev posted volume growth that narrowly missed expectations, even as the World Cup boosted sales of its flagship beers in the Americas.
The world’s largest brewer reported organic volume growth of 0.9% in the second quarter, just below analysts’ estimates of 0.96%, according to a statement Thursday.
Normalised earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose 5.8%, beating analysts’ expectations of 4.8%.
Beer makers are contending with a slowdown in drinking across critical markets, linked to cost-of-living pressures and concerns over the negative health impact of consuming alcohol.
AB InBev is responding by diversifying beyond beer with products such as canned cocktails, though it still relies heavily on mega brands Corona and Michelob Ultra. The brewer is expanding the “Beyond Beer” portfolio that accounted for about 3% of revenue in 2025, and earlier this year completed the acquisition of a majority stake in ready-to-drink brand BeatBox.
The Belgium-based company had been expecting to benefit from a boost in sales from the 2026 World Cup in June and July, co-hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada.
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