Barley Malt Extracts Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Type (Light Extracts, Ambe Extracts, Dark Extracts), By Application (Food, Beverages, Pharmaceuticals, Other), By Source (Conventional, Organic), By Form (Liquid, Powder), By Region, By Competition 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 537.98 Million
CAGR (2026-2031)	7.91%
Fastest Growing Segment	Beverages
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 849.45 Million

Market Overview

The Global Barley Malt Extracts Market will grow from USD 537.98 Million in 2025 to USD 849.45 Million by 2031 at a 7.91% CAGR. Barley malt extract is a nutritive concentrate derived from the enzymatic conversion of malted barley into soluble sugars and amino acids. The global market is primarily propelled by the escalating consumer demand for natural, clean label sweeteners and the robust expansion of the craft brewing sector which necessitates high quality fermentation substrates. This industrial momentum is supported by substantial processing infrastructure, and according to Euromalt, in 2024, the total EU malting capacity reached 10,237,085 tonnes.

Nevertheless, the sector faces a significant impediment regarding the volatility of raw material costs driven by climatic instability. Erratic weather patterns frequently compromise barley harvest quality and yields, creating supply chain disruptions that complicate production planning and enforce upward pressure on final product pricing for manufacturers worldwide.

Key Market Drivers

The rising popularity of non-alcoholic malt beverages in emerging markets is a primary catalyst, as manufacturers leverage malt extracts to provide the essential body and flavor profile lacking in zero-proof formulations. This trend is driven by a global shift toward health-conscious consumption, necessitating high-quality malt concentrates to replicate the sensory experience of traditional beer without fermentation-derived alcohol. According to Heineken N.V., February 2025, in the '2024 Full Year Results', the company reported that its non-alcoholic Heineken 0.0 brand volume grew by 10% globally, with significant expansion in markets such as Brazil. This double-digit growth underscores the critical role of malt extracts in enabling scalable, alcohol-free product innovation that meets evolving consumer preferences for nutritive functional beverages.

Simultaneously, the expansion of the global craft brewing and microbrewery sector necessitates a steady supply of specialty malt extracts to enhance fermentation efficiency and consistency in diverse beer styles. Independent brewers increasingly utilize these concentrates for gravity adjustments and flavor precision as the segment recovers from previous economic headwinds. According to the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA), May 2025, in the 'Independent Beer Report 2025', average production volumes for independent breweries increased by 10% year-on-year. To support this industrial activity, agricultural output remains a vital baseline; according to the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, in January 2025, global barley production was estimated at 143.27 million metric tons, securing the supply chain required for these value-added processing applications.

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Key Market Challenges

The primary obstacle hampering the growth of the Global Barley Malt Extracts Market is the significant volatility of raw material costs resulting from climatic instability. Barley quality and yields are intrinsically linked to weather patterns, where events such as unexpected drought or excessive precipitation can severely diminish harvest outputs. When these erratic conditions occur, they restrict the availability of malting-grade barley, causing immediate supply chain tightness. This scarcity compels malt extract manufacturers to purchase inputs at elevated market prices, which directly compresses profit margins and creates an unpredictable financial environment that discourages investment in capacity expansion.

This detrimental impact is substantiated by recent industry data indicating production downturns in major cultivation regions. According to COCERAL, in December 2024, the barley production volume for the EU-27 and UK region was reported at a constrained level of 57.3 million tonnes following challenging growing conditions throughout the season. Such reduced availability of essential raw materials inevitably forces upward pressure on operational costs for extract producers. Consequently, companies may be forced to increase final product prices to sustain viability, which risks reducing competitiveness and dampening demand from price-sensitive application sectors.

Key Market Trends

The increasing incorporation of barley malt extracts into plant-based dairy alternatives serves as a critical growth vector, particularly within the expanding oat and cereal milk segments. Manufacturers are prioritizing malt concentrates to provide essential enzymatic sweetness and mask vegetal off-notes, effectively eliminating the need for refined sugars or artificial flavor modifiers in clean-label formulations. This sectoral expansion creates a sustained requirement for hydrolyzed barley proteins and sugars to replicate the sensory profile of traditional dairy. According to SunOpta Inc., November 2024, in the 'Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results', the company reported that revenue from its plant-based beverage segment increased by 15.5% to $176.2 million, highlighting the surging industrial uptake of grain-based processing inputs.

Concurrently, the market is witnessing robust application of malt extracts as natural texturizers and colorants within the premium bakery industry. Industrial bakeries are shifting away from synthetic caramel colors and dough conditioners, instead utilizing the reducing sugars in malt to accelerate the Maillard reaction for improved crust browning and moisture retention. This functional usage enhances visual appeal and extends shelf life in artisan breads, cookies, and crackers while satisfying clean-label requirements. According to Associated British Foods plc, November 2024, in the 'Annual Results Announcement 2024', the Ingredients division, which supplies yeast and bakery extracts, reported that revenue increased by 2% driven by strong volumes in bakery ingredients, reflecting the heightened demand for functional baking solutions.

Segmental Insights

Based on recent market analysis, the Beverages segment is identified as the fastest-growing category in the Global Barley Malt Extracts Market. This rapid expansion is primarily driven by the burgeoning craft brewing industry and the surging popularity of non-alcoholic functional drinks, where malt serves as a vital flavor and color enhancer. Furthermore, the global shift toward clean-label products has prompted manufacturers to replace synthetic additives with barley malt extracts, leveraging their status as natural sweeteners. This trend aligns with evolving food safety standards favoring natural ingredients, thereby sustaining the segment’s accelerated growth trajectory globally.

Regional Insights

North America maintains a leading position in the Global Barley Malt Extracts Market, primarily driven by the region's substantial demand for craft beer and processed food products. The established presence of independent breweries utilizes malt extracts significantly for distinct flavor profiles and fermentation processes. Additionally, the food sector increasingly adopts these extracts as natural sweeteners in bakery and confectionery items to meet consumer preferences for clean-label ingredients. Strict safety standards enforced by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) further support market stability, ensuring high-quality production that aligns with the rising health-conscious trends across the continent.

Recent Developments

• In November 2024, Boortmalt announced a significant expansion of its production capabilities in Scotland to meet the growing demand from the distilling sector. The company detailed plans to increase capacity at its Buckie and Glenesk facilities, adding approximately 40,000 metric tonnes and 15,000 metric tonnes of malt production capacity, respectively. This investment was designed to support the local supply chain by processing barley harvested directly from Scottish farms. The project was scheduled to become operational by early 2026, aligning with the company's broader sustainability commitments to reduce its carbon footprint and support regional agriculture.
• In October 2024, Malteries Soufflet officially rebranded as Soufflet Malt, unveiling a new corporate identity following its acquisition of United Malt Group. This strategic move consolidated its position as the world's leading maltster, combining the strengths of both organizations to offer enhanced expertise in agronomy, operations, and decarbonization. The company announced that the new brand would focus on four strategic pillars: pioneering sustainable innovation, leveraging local capabilities globally, accelerating digital excellence, and penetrating adjacent markets. The rebranding marked a significant milestone in the company's integration process, aiming to provide a unified platform for serving brewers and distillers worldwide.
• In October 2024, Diamalteria Italiana formed a strategic alliance with sister companies Kalizea and Grands Moulins de Paris under the new collective brand "ID Ingredients." This collaboration was established to showcase their combined range of cereal-based ingredients, including malt extracts, at major industry events like Food Ingredients Europe. As part of this initiative, the company highlighted its "Diachoco" range, a specialized malt extract formulated to work in synergy with cocoa. This product innovation allowed food manufacturers to reduce cocoa content in recipes while maintaining flavor intensity, addressing challenges related to rising raw material costs in the chocolate industry.
• In June 2024, Briess Malt & Ingredients introduced two new products to its specialty portfolio, Heritage Gold and Crystal Red, during a celebration recognizing Manitowoc as the "Specialty Malt Capital of the World." Heritage Gold was launched as a new base malt offering unique flavor characteristics, while Crystal Red was developed as a high-color specialty malt designed to impart rich red and golden hues to beverages even at low inclusion rates. These product launches underscored the company's continued focus on innovation within the craft brewing and food ingredient sectors, expanding its extensive line of domestically produced specialty malts.

Key Market Players

• Cargill Incorporated
• Archer Daniels Midland Company
• Malteurop
• Boortmalt
• Muntons plc
• Malteurop Group
• Soufflet
• Kerry Group plc
• Associated British Foods plc
• Briess Malt & Ingredients Company

By Type	By Application	By Source	By Form	By Region
Light Extracts Ambe Extracts Dark Extracts	Food Beverages Pharmaceuticals Other	Conventional Organic	Liquid Powder	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Barley Malt Extracts Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Barley Malt Extracts Market, By Type:

• Light Extracts
• Ambe Extracts
• Dark Extracts

• Barley Malt Extracts Market, By Application:

• Food
• Beverages
• Pharmaceuticals
• Other

• Barley Malt Extracts Market, By Source:

• Conventional
• Organic

• Barley Malt Extracts Market, By Form:

• Liquid
• Powder

• Barley Malt Extracts Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE