EU: Net changes in malt production capacities in EU

National statistics of new member countries and Euromalt show an EU malt capacity of 8.8 million tonnes and a production of 8.65 million tonnes in 2004, analysts have recently reported. In the meantime the following average net changes in malt production capacities have occurred or will occur soon:

U.K. - 160,000 tonnes
Austria + 20,000 tonnes
Belgium + 60,000 tonnes
France - 10,000 tonnes
Spain - 30,000 tonnes
Germany - 50,000 tonnes
Netherlands + 55,000 tonnes
Sweden + 40,000 tonnes
Ireland - 35,000 tonnes
Slovakia - 35,000 tonnes
Lithuania + 60,000 tonnes
TOTAL EU - 85,000 tonnes

These figures include the announced 90,000 tonnes malthouse closure in France.