EU: Overview on EU malt market situation
EU malt needs for a beer production of 380 million HL will be between 5.3 and 5.6 million tonnes against 8 million tonnes available. According to analysts forecasts, exports of 2.2 million tonnes in 2004/05 will be probably less again in 2005/06.
The surplus may be between min. 200,000 tonnes, but max. 700,000 tonnes. 700,000 tonnes is the production of approximately one month in the EU.
It would need more closures of inefficient factories to return to an even balance of malt supplies and demand.