Italy: In 2003 Italy produced 56,547 tonnes of malt a 4.3% increase versus 2002 when Italy’s malt production totalled 54,221 tonnes, Italy Brewers Association, Assobirra, published in December 2004. Meanwhile malt production in 2003 decreased 7.9% versus 2001 production (61,407 tonnes).

In 2003 Italy imported 422.24 tonnes of roasted malt (the biggest quantities are: 208.04 tonnes from Germany and 131.45 from Austria) and 111,191 tonnes of unroasted malt (the biggest quantities are: 75,892.36 tonnes from France, 28,895.86 tonnes from Germany, 3,972 from Austria and 2,310.5 tonnes from UK). Four malthouses are activating in Italy: Saplo Spa, Pomezia (Roma), Agro Alimentare Sud Spa and Melfi (Potenza).

22 December, 2004