Asia Pacific: Nominal malt demand low despite region leading in beer production globally

In terms of global beer production, the Asia Pacific holds a clear position as the leading market, but the nominal malt demand from the region, although very large in size, is lower in percentage terms, due to lower malt utilisation rates in the region, RMI Analytics said in their early March report.

The predominant beer style across the region is a lager/pils style, with lower malt inclusion rates and often adjunct utilization. However, as Asia Pacific matures as a beer market, and as premiumization expands, there is an expectation for malt usage to gradually increase.

Asia Pacific’s malt production capacity is dominated by China, and as a result the region possesses the second-largest malt capacity footprint globally (again led by China). As regional demand for malt grows, there is surplus capacity in the region, but it exists mainly in China (and India) while beer volume growth is expected to take place in other countries in the region. This imbalance between the location of surplus malt capacity and malt demand growth creates an interesting market dynamic, especially including the critical role imported malt from origins like Australia and Europe plays in the region, the analysts said.