Malted Barley Market Report 2026

Malted Barley Market Overview

• Malted Barley market size has reached to $4.01 billion in 2025 • Expected to grow to $4.96 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.5% • Growth Driver: Global Beer Consumption Boosts Malted Barley Market Expansion • Market Trend: Voyager Craft Malt And Cryer Malt's Strategic Partnership In The Malted Barley Market • Europe was the largest region in 2025 and North America is the fastest growing region.

What Is Covered Under Malted Barley Market?

Malted barley is the brewer's preferred grain that has been germinated (sprouted) and dried in malting. It is for brewing, distilling, or foods. Malted barley is prized for its ability to provide flavor, color, and fermentable material to the final product, especially in brewing and distilling industries. The main types of malted barley are basic malt and special malt. Basic malt refers to grain, or specifically barley, that has been allowed to germinate and then dried to be used in the production of beer, distilled alcohol for whiskey, and other beverages. They are produced in different forms, including flakes, pellets, granular, powder, and liquid, and are applied in the brewing industry, food industry, pharmaceutical industry, and others.

What Is The Malted Barley Market Growth Forecast?

The malted barley market size is expected to see steady growth in the next few years. It will grow to $4.96 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.5%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing demand from craft and premium beverage segments, rising use of malted barley in functional foods, expansion of distilling capacity in emerging markets, growing focus on sustainable barley sourcing, innovation in specialty malt varieties. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing demand for specialty and craft brewing malts, rising focus on quality-controlled malting processes, growing adoption of customized malt profiles, expansion of malt usage in food applications, enhanced emphasis on traceability and consistency.

Global Malted Barley Market Segmentation

1) By Type: Basic Malt, Special Mal 2) By Form: Whole Malted Barley (Grain), Crushed/Grinded Malt, Malt Flour (Powder), Malt Flakes, Malt Extract (Liquid & Dry) 3) By Application: Brewing, Distilling, Food & Beverage Processing, Animal Feed, Nutraceuticals & Pharmaceuticals, Other Applications Subsegments: 1) By Basic Malt: Pale Malt, Pilsner Malt, Standard Malt 2) By Special Malt: Caramel/Crystal Malt, Roasted Malt, Chocolate Malt, Black Malt

What Is The Driver Of The Malted Barley Market?

The growing demand for beer is expected to propel the growth of the malted barley market going forward. Beer is an alcoholic beverage that is produced through the fermentation of grains, typically malted barley, water, yeast, and hops. Malted barley is a key ingredient in beer production as it supplies the necessary enzymes for the breakdown of the complex carbohydrates in the grain and their conversion to simple sugars, which can then be further fermented by the yeast. For instance, in April 2024, according to BeverageDaily.com, a UK-based online website, in 2023, small and independent brewers collectively produced 23.4 million barrels of beer. Craft beer's share of the total market increased to 13.3%, up from 13.1% in 2022 (by volume). Therefore, the growing demand for beer is driving the growth of the malted barley industry going forward.

What Is The Driver Of The Malted Barley Market?

The growing demand for beer is expected to propel the growth of the malted barley market going forward. Beer is an alcoholic beverage that is produced through the fermentation of grains, typically malted barley, water, yeast, and hops. Malted barley is a key ingredient in beer production as it supplies the necessary enzymes for the breakdown of the complex carbohydrates in the grain and their conversion to simple sugars, which can then be further fermented by the yeast. For instance, in April 2024, according to BeverageDaily.com, a UK-based online website, in 2023, small and independent brewers collectively produced 23.4 million barrels of beer. Craft beer's share of the total market increased to 13.3%, up from 13.1% in 2022 (by volume). Therefore, the growing demand for beer is driving the growth of the malted barley industry going forward.

Global Malted Barley Market Trends and Insights

Major companies operating in the malted barley market are adopting a strategic partnerships approach to drive significant development. Strategic partnerships refer to a process in which companies leverage each other's strengths and resources to achieve mutual benefits and success. For instance, in August 2023, Voyager Craft Malt, an Australia-based company that produces small batches of artisanal malts, partnered with Cryer Malt, another Australia-based company that supplies ingredients for the Australian and New Zealand craft and premium brewing sectors. With this partnership, they aim to launch Dexter Malt, characterized by its use of certified sustainable Australian barley, showcasing a commitment to sustainability and reflecting the growing market trend towards eco-friendly malted barley products. This collaboration between two leading maltsters not only introduces innovation but also emphasizes the importance of certified sustainable barley, contributing to improved quality and efficiency in malted barley products and meeting the rising consumer demand for sustainable options in the malted barley market.

What Are Latest Mergers And Acquisitions In The Malted Barley Market?

In February 2024, Viking Malt Ab, a Denmark-based company that manufactures malted barley, partnered with Improvin’ AB. With this partnership, Viking Malt aims to expand its portfolio by incorporating Improvin's expertise in utilizing precise field-level data to measure and reduce the carbon footprint of their malting barley while monitoring activities that promote biodiversity. Improvin’ AB. is a Sweden-based company that offers services to reduce the carbon footprint of their malting barley.

Regional Outlook

Europe was the largest region in the malted barley market in 2025. North America is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the global malted barley market during the forecast period. The regions covered in this market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in this market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Italy, Spain, Canada

What Defines the Malted Barley Market?

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.

How is Market Value Defined and Measured?

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.

What Key Data and Analysis Are Included in the Malted Barley Market Report 2026?

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