In 2003, UK maltsters exported about 350,000 tonnes of malt “underlining the UK's importance in the global market”. “We must maintain this position through improved communication and new initiatives with farmers, seed producers and agricultural merchants,” HGCA said in a report on June 26. The top ten export destinations for UK malt are Japan, Thailand, Russia, Nigeria, Germany, Vietnam, Trinidad, Malaysia, Venezuela and the USA. These countries account for approximately 300,000 tonnes or 85% of the UK malt exports. The main demand is for a malt to make lager style beers, with 35% supplied in the band 1.55–1.65% nitrogen content and 50% at 1.65–1.85%.

While European, Canadian and Australian competitors of UK have their different varieties, the main UK spring varieties of Optic and Cellar are well received and set benchmarks for quality, HGCA revealed. The UK's reputation has recently been augmented by the unparalleled and unique Assured UK Malt marque.

Assurance is a new initiative, driven by the Maltsters Association of Great Britain (MAGB), and it is a valuable extension to the widely respected Assured Combinable Crops Scheme (ACCS) and Scottish Quality Cereals (SQC), according to HGCA. It offers assurance of complete traceability to the buyers of our malt. It is a scheme that is independently audited, meeting the increasing demands of an ever-demanding consumer market.

25 June, 2004