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.