Ukraine: The biggest Ukrainian malt manufacturer, Slavuta Malting plant, has recently announced a 12% increase in its malt output in 2004 (versus 2003). The company regards last year as a profitable one. In 2004/2005 MY the plant intends to increase the barley processing by 12.4% versus previous MY.

In March 2004 French Soufflet Group has acquired 90% of Slavuta malting plant form Baltic Beverages Holding (BBH) Company. Slavuta Company can process about 120 thousand tonnes of barley per annum and has a production capacity of 80 thousand tonnes of malt per annum. In 2003 Slavuta Maltings increased its malt production by 16.95% in comparison with 2002.

Soufflet Group, the world's largest maltster, owns 22 malting pants with a production capacity of 686 thousand tonnes in France and 600 thousand tonnes in Eastern Europe: Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine. With the acquisition of Slavuta Maltings, the Soufflet Group malting capacity has reached 1,355,000 tonnes.