In the second part of this two-week series, we take a look at some of the key import and export markets for malt materials. Last week, we explored how imports of malt materials, including barley and rye (excluding roasted malt, wheat and flour), increased by 375% between 2014 and 2019 (January to September), from 7,550t to 35,900t. These figures are for malted grains only and do not include imported barley which will be malted here in Ireland.
However, we also export our fair share of malt products. For example, in 2015, Ireland exported over 25,000t of malted grains to countries in the EU and further afield. Ireland also imported large amounts of wheat malt.
In 2014, wheat malt imports totalled 5,000t but by 2017 imports increased to 20,500t. Imports have subsequently declined significantly, however, to 1,280t for the first nine months of 2019.
In this article, we take a look at some of the key import and export markets for malt. Markets where annual import/export tonnages exceed 200t are included in the graphs below.
Key export countries
Exports of malt products have been steadily decreasing since 2014, from around 20,000t to 9,700t in 2019 (January to September). This may reflect growing demand for malt in Ireland due to the upsurge in craft brewing and distilling. Native malting barley supply issues may also have been a factor.
Northern Ireland represents our biggest and most consistent export market, although much of the product is likely to be exported again from there.
Britain is the second-largest export country for malt, although tonnages declined substantially in 2017 and 2018. The US is the third-largest consistent export market for Irish malt.
Key import countries
Malt imports tend to fluctuate from year to year, but since 2017 we have seen a steady upward trend in tonnages. Much of these imports are speciality malts.
However, a proportion of this growth can be attributed to growing demand coupled with quality difficulties with native malting barley.
There were also difficulties caused by a temporary reduction in indigenous malting capacity.
Key import countries can be found in Table 2. Since 2017, Britain has become our biggest source of imports. Interestingly the Czech Republic ay number two provides a steady tonnage of imports. Belgium is our third-largest source of imports.
Read more
Malted barley imports broken down
In the second part of this two-week series, we take a look at some of the key import and export markets for malt materials. Last week, we explored how imports of malt materials, including barley and rye (excluding roasted malt, wheat and flour), increased by 375% between 2014 and 2019 (January to September), from 7,550t to 35,900t. These figures are for malted grains only and do not include imported barley which will be malted here in Ireland.
However, we also export our fair share of malt products. For example, in 2015, Ireland exported over 25,000t of malted grains to countries in the EU and further afield. Ireland also imported large amounts of wheat malt.
In 2014, wheat malt imports totalled 5,000t but by 2017 imports increased to 20,500t. Imports have subsequently declined significantly, however, to 1,280t for the first nine months of 2019.
In this article, we take a look at some of the key import and export markets for malt. Markets where annual import/export tonnages exceed 200t are included in the graphs below.
Key export countries
Exports of malt products have been steadily decreasing since 2014, from around 20,000t to 9,700t in 2019 (January to September). This may reflect growing demand for malt in Ireland due to the upsurge in craft brewing and distilling. Native malting barley supply issues may also have been a factor.
Northern Ireland represents our biggest and most consistent export market, although much of the product is likely to be exported again from there.
Britain is the second-largest export country for malt, although tonnages declined substantially in 2017 and 2018. The US is the third-largest consistent export market for Irish malt.
Key import countries
Malt imports tend to fluctuate from year to year, but since 2017 we have seen a steady upward trend in tonnages. Much of these imports are speciality malts.
However, a proportion of this growth can be attributed to growing demand coupled with quality difficulties with native malting barley.
There were also difficulties caused by a temporary reduction in indigenous malting capacity.
Key import countries can be found in Table 2. Since 2017, Britain has become our biggest source of imports. Interestingly the Czech Republic ay number two provides a steady tonnage of imports. Belgium is our third-largest source of imports.
Read more
Malted barley imports broken down
SHARING OPTIONS