Malted Barley Market Report 2025

The malted barley market size has grown steadily in recent years. It will grow from $3.9 billion in 2024 to $4.06 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.1%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to brewing industry growth, craft beer movement, globalization of beer consumption, whiskey and distilling industry, food industry applications.

The malted barley market size is expected to see steady growth in the next few years. It will grow to $4.77 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.1%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to rising popularity of specialty malt, global expansion of craft distilleries, climate-resilient barley varieties, health and wellness trends, innovation in brewing and distilling techniques. Major trends in the forecast period include digitalization in supply chain management, craft beer boom, sustainable farming practices, flavor innovation, traceability and transparency.

The increasing demand for beer is projected to drive the growth of the malted barley market in the coming years. Beer, an alcoholic beverage, is made through the fermentation of grains, primarily malted barley, along with water, yeast, and hops. Malted barley plays a crucial role in beer production by providing the necessary enzymes to break down complex carbohydrates in the grain and convert them into simple sugars, which can then be fermented by yeast. For example, in April 2024, BeverageDaily.com, a UK-based online source, reported that small and independent brewers produced a total of 23.4 million barrels of beer in 2023. Furthermore, the share of craft beer in the overall market rose to 13.3%, up from 13.1% in 2022 (by volume). As a result, the growing demand for beer is significantly contributing to the expansion of the malted barley market.

The anticipated rise in disposable income is expected to drive the growth of the malted barley market in the future. Disposable income refers to the amount of money available to an individual or household for spending and saving after taxes. With higher disposable incomes, consumers may be more inclined to invest in higher-quality products, including premium malts. This trend can be beneficial for barley growers who produce malting barley varieties known for their superior flavor and brewing characteristics. For example, in October 2023, the Bureau of Economic Analysis reported that disposable personal income in the United States increased to $20.45 trillion, up from $20.38 trillion in September 2023, representing a 0.31% increase. Therefore, the expected rise in disposable income is a significant driver behind the projected growth of the malted barley market.

The malted barley market is witnessing a growing trend towards technology adoption to enhance production efficiency. Leading companies in the market are embracing new technological systems to expand their market share and maintain their competitive edge. For example, in January 2022, Malteria Oriental SA, a Uruguay-based company specializing in high-quality malt production for beer, implemented the ABB Ability System 800xA version 6.1 to bolster its production capabilities. This solution offers fully automated operations and high technological standards, allowing the company to increase its capacity. The system also captures and analyzes production data while providing centralized control for multiple production units, reducing the need for human intervention on the plant floor. Additionally, the upgraded network switches provide improved network management capabilities, enhancing cyber security.

Major players in the malted barley industry are embracing strategic partnerships to drive significant growth. Strategic partnerships involve companies leveraging each other's strengths and resources for mutual benefit and success. For example, in August 2023, Voyager Craft Malt, an Australia-based artisanal malt producer, collaborated with Cryer Malt, another Australia-based supplier serving the craft and premium brewing sectors in Australia and New Zealand. This partnership aims to launch Dexter Malt, which will be made from certified sustainable Australian barley, demonstrating a shared commitment to sustainability and reflecting the increasing market preference for eco-friendly malted barley products. By joining forces, these leading maltsters not only introduce innovation but also underscore the importance of certified sustainable barley, enhancing the quality and efficiency of malted barley products while meeting the growing consumer demand for sustainable options in the malted barley market.

In February 2024, Viking Malt Ab, a Denmark-based manufacturer of malted barley, entered into a partnership with Improvin’ AB. This collaboration aims to enhance Viking Malt's portfolio by leveraging Improvin's expertise in utilizing precise field-level data to measure and minimize the carbon footprint of their malting barley, while also monitoring activities that support biodiversity. Improvin’ AB is a Sweden-based company that specializes in services designed to reduce the carbon footprint associated with malting barley production.

Major companies operating in the malted barley market include Cargill Inc., COFCO International Ltd., Heineken N.V., AB InBev, Avangard-Agro, Groupe Soufflet, Dohler GmbH, IREKS GmbH, GrainCorp Malt, Malteurop Group, Simpsons Malt Ltd., Boortmalt Group, Viking Malt, Bairds Malt, Briess Malt & Ingredients Co, Rahr Corporation, United Canadian Malt Ltd., Barmalt Malting Private Limited, Muntons Malt plc, Great Western Malting Co, Castle Malting S.A., Malting Company of Ireland, Malt Products Corporation, Crisp Malting Group Ltd., Bestmalz AG, Imperial Malt Ltd., Weyermann Malz, Maltexo, Gladfield Malt, Thomas Fawcett & Sons Ltd., The Swaen Malts, Mouterij Dingemans, Axereal, MaltEurop China, Malt Handling LLC, Shanxi Huaxiang Group Co Ltd., Montana Specialty Mills LLC.

Europe was the largest region in the malted barley market in 2024. North America is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the global malted barley market during the forecast period. The regions covered in the malted barley market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the malted barley market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

Malted barley is the preferred grain for brewers, having undergone germination and drying in the malting process. It is used in brewing, distilling, and food production.

The main types of malted barley are basic malt and special malt. Basic malt refers to barley that has been allowed to germinate and then dried for use in brewing beer, distilling whiskey, and other beverages. These are available in various forms such as flakes, pellets, granular, powder, and liquid, and are used in industries such as brewing, food, pharmaceuticals, and more.

The malted barley market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides malted barley market statistics, including malted barley industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a malted barley market share, detailed malted barley market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the malted barley industry. This malted barley market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenarios of the industry.

The malted barley market consists of sales of winter barley, spring barley, malt flour, and malt extracts. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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