World: Malt business hardly started for 2022 due to uncertain future prospects

Malt markets in 2021 will depend, of course, on the course of the corona pandemic, the H. M. Gauger GmbH analysts said in their February report.

Vaccination has commenced in all European countries, but a return to normal life is not in sight.

EU malt production of 2020 has been below capacity, and the reduced production continues in the early months of 2021. In the unlikely event of a completely open social life in spring or summer a lack of malt supplies would be possible, the analysts said.

The EU malt industry was oversold at the end of 2019, and the capacities were fully used before the crisis started.

Because of the uncertain future prospects business has hardly started for 2022, neither for priced contracts nor for barley cover of LTA’s, the experts said.