Market research

Malt market in Ireland

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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File format: docx, xlsx

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Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2023, Ireland's malt market volume fell sharply from 137 thousand tons to 24 thousand tons. This decline was accompanied by a steady drop in domestic production, which more than halved, while exports grew substantially over the period.

From 2022, global supply-chain issues and inflationary pressures began to affect production and route-to-market for malt-based beverages. The following year, the cost-of-living crisis reduced consumer spending on alcoholic drinks, leading to a projected fall-off in demand for malting barley, which directly constrained the malt market. Brexit and new importation rules into Great Britain further disrupted trade flows.

In 2024, the Malting Company of Ireland announced plans to expand processing capacity by 25 thousand tons of malted barley, but simultaneously reduced forward contracts for the 2026 harvest by 15% due to anticipated demand weakness, reflecting the ongoing adjustment in the market.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Ireland
  1. 5.1.1. In kind, 2018-2023, K t
2. 5.2. Production in the EU, 2018-2024
  1. 5.2.1. In kind, 2018-2024, K t
  2. 5.2.2. In value, 2018-2024, M $ US
3. 5.3. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.3.1. Global Production by Country in kind
    1. 5.3.1.1. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, K t
    2. 5.3.1.2. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
    3. 5.3.1.3. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Ireland in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Ireland by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Ireland in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Ireland by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Ireland, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Ireland by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Ireland in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Ireland by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Ireland in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Ireland by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Ireland, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Ireland by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Ireland in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Ireland by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Ireland in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Ireland by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Ireland, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Ireland by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Ireland in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Ireland by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Ireland in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Ireland by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Ireland, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Ireland by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production malt in Ireland

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of malt, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of malt, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Ireland's malt production declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, production reached 116 thousand tons, showing little change from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, production decreased by 8.5%, with an average annual decline of 2.9%.

Annual dynamics of production in Ireland in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(1.5%)	(6.8%)	(0.4%)	(2.9%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports malt from Ireland

Exports in kind, t

In 2020, Ireland's cross-border malt shipments totaled 22,929 tons, representing a sharp 64.4% increase from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports grew by 60.7%, with an average annual growth rate of 17.1%. The lowest export volume was recorded in 2019 at 13,943 tons, which also saw the largest decline of 5.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Ireland in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	3.4%	(5.5%)	64.4%	17.1%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the United Kingdom dominated Ireland's malt exports in kind, consistently accounting for 90.7% of total flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Ireland in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

Ireland's malt export value increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports reached 11,713 thousand US dollars, up 51.9% from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, export value grew by 86.1%, equating to an average annual increase of 23.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Ireland in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	9.3%	12.1%	51.9%	23.0%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the United Kingdom was the dominant market for Ireland's malt exports in value terms, capturing 89.0% of total flows, while other countries accounted for the remaining share.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Ireland in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports malt to Ireland

Imports in kind, t

The data reveals irregular changes, indicating a volatile market environment. Imports peaked in 2019 at 66,507 tons and fell to their lowest point in 2020, representing a 2.8-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Ireland imported a total of {value_last_year} tons of malt, marking a 64.9% decline from 2019. The largest increase of 144.8% was recorded in 2019.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Ireland in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(36.3%)	144.8%	(64.9%)	(18.2%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the United Kingdom and Belgium remained the primary suppliers of malt to Ireland in kind, together accounting for 88.0% of total imports, with other countries forming the remainder.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Ireland in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

The market showed signs of volatility over the observed period. Import value reached its maximum in 2019 at 27,166 thousand US dollars and fell to its minimum in 2020, showing a 2.8-fold variation. In 2020, Ireland's imported malt volumes amounted to 9,828 thousand US dollars, down 63.8% year-over-year. The largest increase of 121.0% was recorded in 2019.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Ireland in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(9.3%)	121.0%	(63.8%)	(10.2%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Ireland's import structure in value terms was strongly concentrated on the United Kingdom and Belgium, which together accounted for 87.2% of total flows, with other partners forming a residual share.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Ireland in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io