EU: Permanent and temporary closures have brought the malt output down to 8 mln tonnes
In 2004 the EU still produced 8.7 million tonnes of malt. Domestic needs or beer and whisky are 5.7 5.8 million tonnes, exports will be 2.1 2.2 million tonnes, according to analysts. Permanent and temporary closures have brought the production down to 8 million tonnes.
During March business was done between maltsters, a clear sign that supply is back in balance with demand. Analysts production forecast for 2006/07 is also 8 million tonnes, there will not be any large surplus stocks, which led to desperate price actions in the past.