From craft beers in the US to premium lagers in Europe, the humble malt kernel is powering a massive global industry, as evidenced by its 27.4 million metric ton output and $18.5 billion market value in 2023.
Key Takeaways
- Global malt production in 2023 totaled 27.4 million metric tons, up 3.2% from 2022 due to increased barley yields in Europe.
- The European Union produced 10.2 million tons of malt in 2023, accounting for 37% of global output.
- Australia's malt production reached 1.8 million tons in 2022-23, driven by exports to Asia.
- Global malt market size valued at USD 18.5 billion in 2023.
- Malt market projected to grow at CAGR 4.2% from 2024 to 2030.
- Beer segment holds 78% share of global malt market in 2023.
- Global per capita malt consumption averaged 3.4 kg in 2023.
- Beer malt consumption worldwide 21.5 million tons in 2023.
- US per capita malt consumption 8.2 kg via beer in 2023.
- Global malt exports reached 12.1 million tons in 2023.
- EU malt exports valued at EUR 2.8 billion in 2023.
- Australia's malt exports hit 1.4 million tons to Asia.
- 45% of global malt production certified sustainable in 2023.
- Organic malt production grew 18% to 2.1 million tons worldwide.
- Water usage in malting reduced by 25% industry-wide since 2015.
Global malt production rose to 27.4 million tons, fueling beer markets worldwide.
Consumption Patterns
- Global per capita malt consumption averaged 3.4 kg in 2023.
- Beer malt consumption worldwide 21.5 million tons in 2023.
- US per capita malt consumption 8.2 kg via beer in 2023.
- China's malt consumption reached 7.2 million tons in 2023.
- Germany's beer-driven malt use 4.1 million tons in 2023.
- Brazil consumed 4.8 million tons of malt for beer in 2023.
- India's malt consumption grew to 1.1 million tons in 2023.
- Australia's per capita malt intake 12.5 kg in 2023.
- Mexico's malt use 3.9 million tons, highest in Latin America.
- UK's malt consumption 1.6 million tons in 2023/24.
- Japan's imported malt consumption 1.8 million tons in 2023.
- France consumed 2.5 million tons of malt in 2023.
- Canada's malt use 1.0 million tons domestically in 2023.
- South Korea malt consumption 0.9 million tons in 2023.
- Poland's beer malt intake 1.2 million tons in 2023.
- Vietnam consumed 1.3 million tons of malt in 2023.
- South Africa's malt use 0.8 million tons for beer.
- Russia's domestic malt consumption 1.1 million tons.
- Turkey malt consumption 0.7 million tons in 2023.
- Thailand's growing malt use 0.6 million tons in 2023.
- Argentina consumed 0.9 million tons of malt in 2023.
- Belgium's high per capita 15.2 kg malt consumption.
- Denmark malt use 0.5 million tons, craft focus.
- Ireland whiskey malt consumption 0.3 million tons.
- Netherlands consumed 0.7 million tons malt in 2023.
- Sweden's organic malt consumption up 20% to 0.2 million tons.
- Czech Republic per capita 14.8 kg malt use.
- Ethiopia's local malt consumption 0.15 million tons.
Consumption Patterns Interpretation
The global beer industry is a remarkably thirsty and unevenly distributed enterprise, with the average person sipping a modest 3.4 kg of malt worth of brew, while nations like Belgium and Australia cheerfully lap the rest of the barrel, proving that when it comes to malt, we are definitely not created equal.
Market Analysis
- Global malt market size valued at USD 18.5 billion in 2023.
- Malt market projected to grow at CAGR 4.2% from 2024 to 2030.
- Beer segment holds 78% share of global malt market in 2023.
- North America malt market size was USD 4.2 billion in 2023.
- Asia-Pacific malt market to grow fastest at 5.1% CAGR to 2030.
- Premium malt segment valued at USD 5.8 billion globally in 2023.
- Distilled spirits malt market share 15% of total in 2023.
- Organic malt market reached USD 1.2 billion in 2023.
- Europe malt market dominated with 45% global share in 2023.
- US craft beer malt demand boosted market by 12% in 2023.
- China malt market size USD 2.1 billion in 2023.
- Brazil malt market grew 8% to USD 1.5 billion in 2023.
- India malt market valued at USD 0.9 billion, CAGR 6.5% projected.
- Australia malt exports contributed AUD 1.2 billion to market in 2023.
- Germany malt market leader in Europe at EUR 3.4 billion.
- UK malt market size GBP 1.1 billion in 2023.
- Canada malt market USD 0.8 billion, driven by exports.
- South Africa malt market valued at ZAR 4.5 billion in 2023.
- Mexico malt market USD 1.0 billion for beer industry.
- Japan malt imports market USD 0.7 billion in 2023.
- France malt market EUR 2.2 billion, premium focus.
- Russia malt market RUB 150 billion despite challenges.
- Vietnam malt market USD 0.4 billion, growing rapidly.
Market Analysis Interpretation
The global malt industry, a behemoth valued at $18.5 billion, is being steadily barrel-aged by beer's 78% dominance, with craft movements and Asia-Pacific thirst fueling its frothy, premium-priced growth.
Production and Output
- Global malt production in 2023 totaled 27.4 million metric tons, up 3.2% from 2022 due to increased barley yields in Europe.
- The European Union produced 10.2 million tons of malt in 2023, accounting for 37% of global output.
- Australia's malt production reached 1.8 million tons in 2022-23, driven by exports to Asia.
- United States malt production was 2.1 million metric tons in 2023, with craft brewers consuming 45%.
- Germany's malting capacity stands at 3.5 million tons annually as of 2024.
- France produced 2.8 million tons of barley malt in 2023, focusing on premium pilsner malt.
- Canada's malt output hit 1.2 million tons in 2023, with 60% exported to the US.
- In 2023, China imported 1.5 million tons of malt but produced only 0.8 million tons domestically.
- Ukraine's malt production dropped to 0.9 million tons in 2023 due to geopolitical conflicts.
- Argentina's malt industry output was 0.7 million tons in 2022, mainly for local beer production.
- Denmark malts 1.1 million tons yearly, specializing in organic varieties at 15% of total.
- Belgium's six major maltsters produced 1.4 million tons in 2023.
- UK's malt production for 2023/24 season projected at 1.9 million tons.
- Russia produced 1.3 million tons of malt in 2023 despite sanctions.
- New Zealand's malt output was 0.4 million tons in 2023, focused on high-quality export malt.
- India's domestic malt production reached 0.3 million tons in 2023, with imports supplementing.
- Brazil's malt production grew to 0.6 million tons in 2023 for its expanding beer market.
- South Africa's malt output was 0.5 million tons in 2023, led by SABMiller.
- Ethiopia produced 0.2 million tons of malt in 2023, aiming for self-sufficiency.
- Poland's malt production totaled 1.0 million tons in 2023.
- Czech Republic malts 0.8 million tons annually, known for lager malts.
- Sweden's organic malt production was 0.15 million tons in 2023.
- Netherlands malt exports originated from 0.9 million tons production in 2023.
- Ireland produced 0.4 million tons of malt in 2023 for whiskey and beer.
- Turkey's malt output reached 0.35 million tons in 2023.
- Vietnam imported malt but produced 0.1 million tons locally in 2023.
- Mexico's malt production was 0.25 million tons in 2023 for cerveza.
- Japan's malt consumption drove 0.2 million tons production in 2023.
- Thailand produced 0.15 million tons of malt in 2023.
Production and Output Interpretation
The global malt industry is a surprisingly orderly tapestry of regional specialization, where Europe's barley bounty fuels the world's thirst, craft brewers carve out a significant niche, and every nation, from Germany's powerhouse maltings to Ethiopia's quest for self-sufficiency, plays a distinct role in keeping our glasses full.
Sustainability and Innovation
- 45% of global malt production certified sustainable in 2023.
- Organic malt production grew 18% to 2.1 million tons worldwide.
- Water usage in malting reduced by 25% industry-wide since 2015.
- 60% of EU malt uses renewable energy in production.
- Australia's malt industry recycled 95% of steeping water in 2023.
- US craft maltsters 80% adopt regenerative agriculture.
- Global CO2 emissions from malting down 15% via tech upgrades.
- 30% increase in low-glucan malt varieties for gluten-free beer.
- Enzyme tech reduced energy use in kilning by 20%.
- Germany's zero-waste malt plants reached 40% coverage.
- Blockchain traceability adopted by 25% of malt supply chains.
- Precision agriculture boosted barley yields 12% for malt.
- UK's malt CO2 footprint cut 22% per ton since 2020.
- Canada's malt industry 70% carbon neutral goal by 2030 progress.
- Non-GMO malt demand up 35% in Asia markets.
- AI-optimized malting processes saved 10% energy globally.
- Spent grain repurposing reached 90% in EU malt houses.
- Drought-resistant barley varieties 15% of malt input.
- France's solar-powered malt kilns at 20 facilities.
- Global R&D investment in malt biotech USD 450 million.
- Belgium's specialty malts innovation grew 25% market share.
Sustainability and Innovation Interpretation
The malt industry’s journey from grain to glass is becoming a masterclass in eco-alchemy, as evidenced by leaps in sustainable certification, water and energy savings, waste diversion, and even blockchain-backed transparency, all while steadily growing its greener offerings and market appeal.
Trade and Exports
- Global malt exports reached 12.1 million tons in 2023.
- EU malt exports valued at EUR 2.8 billion in 2023.
- Australia's malt exports hit 1.4 million tons to Asia.
- US malt exports grew 15% to 0.6 million tons in 2023.
- Canada exported 0.8 million tons of malt to US in 2023.
- France malt exports 1.2 million tons, mainly to Africa.
- Germany's malt trade surplus EUR 1.5 billion in 2023.
- UK's malt exports 0.5 million tons to EU post-Brexit.
- Argentina exported 0.4 million tons of malt in 2023.
- Denmark top organic malt exporter at 0.2 million tons.
- Belgium exported 0.6 million tons specialty malts.
- China imported 4.5 million tons of malt in 2023.
- Japan malt imports totaled 1.9 million tons.
- Brazil malt imports 1.2 million tons despite local production.
- India imported 0.8 million tons malt for beer growth.
- Vietnam top importer at 1.1 million tons in 2023.
- South Korea imported 1.0 million tons malt.
- Mexico imported 0.5 million tons premium malt.
- Russia malt exports fell to 0.3 million tons.
- South Africa exported 0.1 million tons to Africa.
- Poland malt exports 0.4 million tons to Eastern Europe.
- Netherlands re-exported 0.7 million tons malt.
- Ukraine exports dropped 70% to 0.2 million tons.
- New Zealand exported 0.3 million tons high-quality malt.
- Turkey imported 0.4 million tons malt in 2023.
- Thailand malt imports 0.5 million tons.
- Ireland exported 0.2 million tons peated malt for whiskey.
- Sweden exported 0.1 million tons organic malt.
- Czech Republic malt exports 0.3 million tons.
Trade and Exports Interpretation
The world's brewers clearly sent out a global memo that everyone must attend the all-hands meeting, with Asia hosting the main event, Europe footing most of the bar tab, and North America ensuring the transcontinental happy hour stays well-stocked.
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