US Hop Market Update

The latest USDA reports point to a hop market that continues to rebalance. The 2026 USDA June Hop Report shows 41,642 acres strung for harvest, essentially unchanged from 41,654 acres in 2025. Based on recent average U.S. yields, that acreage would be expected to produce approximately 80 million pounds of hops, depending on growing conditions.

Depletions Outpace Production by 22%

Meanwhile, brewers and export markets continue to work through existing inventories. According to the USDA March Hop Stocks Report, total U.S. hop inventories declined 13% year over year, from 169 million pounds on March 1, 2025, to 147 million pounds on March 1, 2026. The market consumed approximately 105 million pounds of hops over the past year while new supply totaled only 82 million pounds—22% less than consumption. This imbalance continues to reduce the industry's excess inventory and move the hop market toward a more balanced supply-demand position.

While the market still has available inventory, the surplus that has characterized the past several years is gradually being absorbed. As inventories continue to normalize, we expect availability to become more limited for certain varieties.

Planning Ahead

If there are hops that are critical to your flagship brands or long-term production plans, now is a good time to begin planning for your CY26 and CY27 needs. As a reminder, our CY26 hop selection deadline is July 31. Crosby offers no contract minimums on Estate Grown varieties, just 440 lb. minimums for Citra® and Mosaic®, and 1,100 lb. minimums on all other varieties, making it easy to secure the lots that matter most to your beers. If you'd like to discuss availability or develop a contracting strategy that fits your brewing plans, our team is here to help.