The global malting industry has an annual production capacity to produce around 22 million tonnes (from 28 million tonnes of barley). However the actual global malt production is currently running at a capacity of 85%. 40% of the global production capacity is held in the EU.

European malt is produced both for the internal and external markets.

The EU represents around 50% of world trade in malt annually exporting over 2.2 million tonnes. European malt is competitive in the world markets because the continent had a good climate and agronomic conditions for growing malting barley of the highest quality. The EU also has logistical advantages over the competition with very competitive freight rates (container and bulk) to the main export destinations, which are Russia, Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines and Japan) and Latin America (Brazil and Venezuela).