Slovakia: Slovakia ranks as one of the larges malt exporters in the EU and the world

Slovak malt has become an important export commodity in recent years. Currently, Slovakia is one of the 10 largest exporters of this commodity in the world. In the European Union (EU), it ranks fifth after France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands, The Slovak Spectator reported on January 22 quoting a press release by Hurbanovo-based Heineken Slovakia Sladovne (malt house).

Heineken’s press release cites data of the Slovak Association of Beer and Malt Producers (SZVPS), showing that Slovakia produced more malt than wheat in 2023, which was a historical milestone. This trend continued last year. As much as 80 percent of produced malt goes abroad, with Poland being the largest customer, accounting for 40 percent.

Heineken’s malt house located in eastern Slovakia highlighted the importance of cooperation with domestic barley growers.

“Our goal is to build long-term and successful partnerships with growers,” Tomáš Ševčík, the company’s manager, said. “Therefore, we regularly organise trainings, field days and events where farmers learn about the latest cultivation practices and the importance of sustainable agriculture.”

Sustainability is linked to new technologies in the production of malt and beer, as well as in the cultivation of malting barley, which reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, he said. One example of alternative cultivation is the introduction of autumn sowing of spring varieties of malting barley, which increases the crop’s resilience to climate change.

“This method, which was developed in cooperation with our growers more than 10 years ago, has several advantages,” explained Ševčík. “It improves grain quality and contributes to the diversification of agricultural production. Together with breeders, we are trying to develop the right varietal composition that is resistant to extreme weather fluctuations and thus spread the risk of reduced yields.”

The future of Slovak malt looks promising. The growing demand for quality beer and the increasing interest in local products create excellent conditions for Slovak malt houses.

“We believe that Slovak malt will continue to be one of the leaders on the European market,” concluded Ševčík.

The brewing industry is the fourth largest sector of the Slovak food industry with sales of around €400 million, the Trend weekly wrote last July.

Butchers are the top sector with sales of around €800 million, dairy farmers are second with €600 million and the third largest sector is the bakery, confectionery and pasta sector with an annual turnover of around €500 million, Vladimír Machalík, executive director of the Slovak Association of Beer and Malt Producers (SZVPS), specified for the weekly.

Slovakia is the fifth largest malt exporter in the European Union in terms of volume and sixth in terms of value. Globally, it is one of the 10 largest exporters of this commodity.

“Slovak malt is exported to the whole of central Europe and the Balkans and is used by almost every major brewery in the region,” said Machalík. “We have as many as seven malt houses in Slovakia, which is a considerable number for such a territory.”

Slovakia produces around 290,000 tonnes malting of malt a year, 80 percent of which goes abroad. About 380,000 tonnes of barley are needed to produce this amount, but Slovakia does not produce it in such quantities. Although there are hundreds of malting barley growers in the country, their production is not sufficient to meet the demand. In order to be able to produce and export malt in the quantities mentioned above, Slovak malt houses need to import 60,000-80,000 tonnes of malting barley, mainly from Hungary and the Czech Republic.

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