E-Malt.com News article: World: Malting industry seeing large construction wave in many parts of the world

In recent years, new malting capacities were constructed in China and Brazil, malthouses shut in Russia. The larger malt demand of craft brewers started a major construction wave in the USA, H. M. Gauger GmbH said in their December report.

After Briess’ acquisition of the Manitowoc maltings, Rahr added 80,000 tonnes to their Shakopee plant, giving it a total production of 460,000 tonnes in one place. Graincorp announced a 120,000 tonnes expansion program. And a new company, Proximity Malt, is building two 30,000 tonnes malthouses in Delaware and Colorado, both aiming at special malt business with craft brewers.

In speciality malts, AB InBev (SABMiller in South Africa), Viking Malt, and Castle Malting have built new roasting facilities. Crips Malt in the UK is in the process of installing its first roasting equipment, too. All these new roasting plants are based on the new roasting technology of electric heating to avoid any contamination by NDMA of which there is a risk when applying the traditional gas-heating process. Globally these new specialty malt plants will bring between 20 and 30,000 tonnes of extra capacity of roasted and caramelized malts, which is much more than what the market can absorb.

In the non-roasted malt sector, Boortmalt in Antwerp is preparing to launch a new production unit of 100,000 tonnes in 2018. In the Netherlands, Holland Malt will be doubling their 110,000 tonnes plant in Eemshaven. In Vietnam, Interflour intends to make its new 110,000 tonnes facility operational in March 2017, with an extension plan to 220,000 by 2019.

As for acquisitions, Germany’s Mich. Weyermann GmbH &Co. KG has announced the purchase of the Thüringer Malz plant in Clingen, Thuringia to secure more production. The company said it planned to increase the plant’s current production capacity of around 16 thousand tonnes over the next several years. The transfer of ownership will take effect on January 2, 2017.

17 December, 2016