Which Are the Best-Selling Beers in Each Latin American Country?

This post is also available in:

In almost every Latin American country the best-selling beer is a mass-market lager from a large brewing group, and most of those brands belong to AB InBev or Heineken. Brazil and Mexico are the region’s two largest markets, and Panama is the country that drinks the most beer per person, according to Kirin’s global consumption report published in December 2025.

This country-by-country review uses the most recent data available from company reports, the market research firm Nielsen and business media in each country. In several smaller markets there are no current public market share figures, and in those cases only the leading brand and the group that owns it are given. Some data come from preference surveys rather than sales, and this is noted where it applies.

Argentina

Cervecería y Maltería Quilmes, a subsidiary of Ambev and therefore of AB InBev, is Argentina’s largest brewer. Its Brahma brand overtook Quilmes in 2018 as the country’s best-selling beer, according to data published at the time by Clarín (CNN Chile, 2018).

Its main competitor is CCU Argentina, with brands such as Schneider, Imperial and Heineken under license, which held about 33% of the market in 2022 (Tecnobebidas, 2022).

Bolivia

Cervecería Boliviana Nacional (CBN), a subsidiary of Ambev, leads the Bolivian market with Paceña and Huari. There are no current public figures for its market share.

Paceña is the country’s flagship brand, and the company has launched larger formats such as the 710 ml Paceña Macanuda.

Brazil

Brazil is the largest beer market in Latin America and the third largest in the world. In 2024 the country drank about 15.3 billion liters of beer, 1.1% more than the previous year, with 70.3 liters per person (Kirin, 2025).

Ambev, an AB InBev subsidiary, controls about 59% of sales with brands such as Brahma and Skol, two of the best-selling beers in the world. Heineken is the second group with about 24%, and Grupo Petrópolis has more than 12%, according to Nielsen data for January to April 2025 (Food Biz Brasil, 2025).

The most visible change since 2019 is the rise of Heineken, which now controls a quarter of the market. Part of that growth comes from some beer consumers moving toward premium brands.

Chile

Compañía Cervecerías Unidas (CCU), with brands such as Cristal and Escudo, leads the Chilean market. A 2022 report by Chile’s National Economic Prosecutor’s Office put its share at between 65% and 75% (La Tercera). AB InBev, with Corona and Becker, is its main rival and has gained ground in recent years.

Consumer preferences tell a different story. In a Cadem survey from November 2024, Kunstmann was the favorite beer with 17%, followed by Corona with 16% and Heineken with 14% (CNN Chile, 2024). The shift toward craft beers and premium brands is visible in that list.

Colombia

Bavaria, an AB InBev subsidiary, dominates the Colombian market. Águila and Póker are its strongest brands, and in the 2025 Top of Mind study Águila was the most remembered beer with 33%, followed by Póker with 26% (Valora Analitik, 2025).

Its competitor is Central Cervecera de Colombia, a joint venture between CCU and Postobón that brews Heineken and Andina, with a share of about 7.2% according to Portafolio in August 2026 (Portafolio, 2026).

Mexico

Mexico is the region’s second largest beer market and the fourth largest in the world, with about 10.8 billion liters in 2024, 5.4% more than in 2023, and 83.4 liters per person (Kirin, 2025).

The market is split between Grupo Modelo, owned by AB InBev, and Heineken México, which together account for almost all sales. Corona beer is Mexico’s most valuable brand, ahead of Modelo, Tecate and Victoria (Kantar BrandZ Mexico, 2025), and in 2026 it was the world’s most valuable beer brand in Kantar’s global ranking for the third year running (AB InBev, 2026).

Peru

Unión de Cervecerías Peruanas Backus y Johnston, an AB InBev subsidiary, brews Peru’s best-selling beers, Cristal and Pilsen Callao, and controls the vast majority of the market.

The big news is Heineken’s arrival in November 2020 with Tres Cruces, Heineken and Amstel, distributed together with AJE and Arca Continental (El Comercio).

Uruguay

Fábricas Nacionales de Cerveza (FNC), an Ambev subsidiary, brews Uruguay’s leading brands, Pilsen, Patricia, Norteña and Zillertal. Its share has fallen from about 90% to around 70%, a figure that includes beer imported by FNC itself.

Imported beer has gained a lot of ground. In 2025 imports exceeded domestic production for the first time, and in 2026 FNC was negotiating job cuts or ending production in the country (MercoPress, 2026).

Venezuela

Cervecería Polar, part of Empresas Polar, is Venezuela’s leading brewer and one of the few large independent brewers in the region. Its Polar Pilsen, Polar Light and Polar Ice brands dominate consumption, although there are no current public figures for its share.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica’s best-selling beer is Imperial. Its owner changed recently, as Heineken bought 75% of Distribuidora La Florida, FIFCO’s beverage business, in a deal worth about 3.2 billion dollars that closed in January 2026 (Heineken, 2025). It is the biggest change of ownership in the region since 2019.

Ecuador

Ecuador’s best-selling beer is Pilsener, from Cervecería Nacional, which has belonged to AB InBev since 2016.

El Salvador

El Salvador’s best-selling beer is Pilsener, from La Constancia, owned by AB InBev since 2016.

Guatemala

Guatemala’s best-selling beer is Gallo, from Cervecería Centro Americana, an independent company that also distributes Heineken in the country.

Haiti

Haiti’s best-selling beer is Prestige, from Brasserie Nationale d’Haïti (BRANA), in which Heineken holds 95%.

Honduras

Honduras’s best-selling beer is Salva Vida, from Cervecería Hondureña, in which AB InBev holds 99.61%.

Nicaragua

Nicaragua’s best-selling beer is Toña, from Compañía Cervecera de Nicaragua. After buying FIFCO’s beverage business, Heineken holds an indirect stake in the company.

Paraguay

Cervepar, an Ambev subsidiary, leads the Paraguayan market with brands such as Pilsen and Brahma. There are no current public figures for its market share.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Which Latin American country drinks the most beer?

By total volume, Brazil, with about 15.3 billion liters in 2024. Per person, Panama leads the region with 86.1 liters a year, followed by Mexico with 83.4 and Brazil with 70.3, according to Kirin’s global consumption report published in December 2025.

2. Which multinationals control the beer market in Latin America?

AB InBev controls Ambev, with Quilmes, CBN, Cervepar and FNC, as well as Grupo Modelo, Bavaria, Backus, Cervecería Nacional in Ecuador, La Constancia and Cervecería Hondureña. Heineken owns Heineken México, Heineken Brasil, a stake in CCU, FIFCO’s beverage business in Costa Rica since 2026 and BRANA in Haiti.

3. What is the difference between a Latin American Pilsen and a European Pilsner?

The mass-market Latin American beers called Pilsen actually belong to the American Adjunct Lager style. A traditional Czech or German Pilsner uses barley malt and noble hops, while the Latin versions replace part of the barley with adjuncts such as corn or rice. The result has less body, less bitterness and is very refreshing in warm climates.

4. What is the most valuable beer brand in Latin America?

Corona, from AB InBev. In 2026 it was the world’s most valuable beer brand in Kantar BrandZ’s global ranking for the third year running, and in 2025 it was Mexico’s most valuable brand.

5. How do taxes affect the price of beer in the region?

In almost all of Latin America beer pays specific excise taxes, such as IEPS in Mexico, ILA in Chile or ICE in Ecuador, on top of general VAT. That burden weighs on the final price and pushes brands to promote returnable bottles to keep prices competitive.

Recommended

• Where Is Corona Beer From? History and Origin of Cervecería Modelo
• What Is a Caguama? History, Evolution, and Cultural Impact in Mexico