World: Malt shortage estimated at up to 25% for crop year 2021/22

The brewing industries are considered short 10-25% of malt (full price and long-term agreements) for the crop year 2021/22, H. M. Gauger GmbH reported earlier this month.

Malt prices are up to double of the levels foreseen in the brewers’ budgets. Therefore brewing shut-downs in spring and early summer cannot be excluded, the analysts warned.

There remain several unknowns: will the new Covid wave have an effect on beer and whisky sales? Will malt supplies be boosted by barley imports from Argentina and Australia? Will the hope for an early good barley harvest in 2022 come true? Will the crop year 2022/23 return to be normal again? For the time being the uncertainties remain strong.

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