Maltings closures, done and announced till February 28, are: U.K. 110,000 tonnes, Ireland 36,000 tonnes, Slovakia 30,000 tonnes. All these shutdowns are smaller old units of large malting companies, who streamline their production for the difficult years to come. Sad stories emanate from Germany: a 40,000 tonnes plant, idle since a year, has resumed production. Two small malthouses of an insolvent company will probably be taken over and continue to produce malt, experts said.

09 March, 2005