The Global Specialty Malt Market is valued at approximately USD 3.2 billion in 2024 and is poised to grow at a steady CAGR of 5.90% over the forecast period 2025-2035. Specialty malt, crafted through carefully controlled germination and kilning processes, has become the soul ingredient behind craft beers, artisan bread, premium spirits, and high-end culinary products. As global consumer preferences increasingly gravitate toward richer flavor profiles, natural ingredients, and product authenticity, the demand for specialty malts has witnessed a notable surge. Producers are responding to this shift by incorporating a wider range of malt varieties to create unique formulations, particularly in the craft brewing and artisanal food sectors.
This upward trajectory is amplified by a flourishing craft beer movement that shows no sign of deceleration. With brewers placing a strong emphasis on flavor differentiation, specialty malt's role in color, mouthfeel, and aroma customization becomes irreplaceable. Simultaneously, the demand for malt in distilleries and bakeries is accelerating, fueled by evolving gastronomic trends and the appeal of clean-label, health-aligned formulations. Technological enhancements in malting techniques, along with traceability and organic certifications, are further pushing the boundaries of innovation in this domain. Moreover, the rising preference for organic specialty malts has unlocked new market dynamics among premium-conscious consumers.
Regionally, Europe continues to dominate the specialty malt market, largely owing to its deeply embedded beer culture, significant number of artisanal breweries, and centuries-old malting heritage. North America follows closely, spearheaded by the U.S., where small and mid-sized brewers are experimenting extensively with malt combinations to offer hyper-local craft products. Meanwhile, the Asia Pacific region emerges as the fastest-growing market, with demand steered by booming urban populations, increasing disposable incomes, and the rise of Western-style food and beverage consumption. Countries like China, India, and Japan are witnessing growing interest in both imported and domestically brewed specialty beverages, laying fertile ground for specialty malt growth.
Major market player included in this report are:
- Briess Malt & Ingredients Co.
- Malteurop Groupe
- Viking Malt
- Simpsons Malt Ltd.
- Cargill, Incorporated
- IREKS GmbH
- Bairds Malt Limited
- GrainCorp Limited
- Axereal (Boortmalt)
- Rahr Corporation
- Muntons PLC
- Bestmalz (Palatia Malz GmbH)
- Soufflet Group
- Thomas Fawcett & Sons Ltd.
- Castle Malting
Global Specialty Malt Market Report Scope:
- Historical Data - 2023, 2024
- Base Year for Estimation - 2024
- Forecast period - 2025-2035
- Report Coverage - Revenue forecast, Company Ranking, Competitive Landscape, Growth factors, and Trends
- Regional Scope - North America; Europe; Asia Pacific; Latin America; Middle East & Africa
- Customization Scope - Free report customization (equivalent up to 8 analysts' working hours) with purchase. Addition or alteration to country, regional & segment scope*
The objective of the study is to define market sizes of different segments & countries in recent years and to forecast the values for the coming years. The report is designed to incorporate both qualitative and quantitative aspects of the industry within the countries involved in the study. The report also provides detailed information about crucial aspects, such as driving factors and challenges, which will define the future growth of the market. Additionally, it incorporates potential opportunities in micro-markets for stakeholders to invest, along with a detailed analysis of the competitive landscape and product offerings of key players.
The detailed segments and sub-segments of the market are explained below:
By Malt Type:
- Pale Malt
- Caramel Malt
- Crystal Malt
- Roasted Malt
- Munich Malt
- Vienna Malt
By Extraction Rate:
- Low Extraction Rate Malt
- Medium Extraction Rate Malt
- High Extraction Rate Malt
By Application:
- Brewing
- Baking
- Distilling
By Packaging:
By Organic Status:
- Organic Specialty Malt
- Conventional Specialty Malt
By Region:
- North America
- U.S.
- Canada
- Europe
- UK
- Germany
- France
- Spain
- Italy
- Rest of Europe
- Asia Pacific
- China
- India
- Japan
- Australia
- South Korea
- Rest of Asia Pacific
- Latin America
- Brazil
- Mexico
- Middle East & Africa
- UAE
- Saudi Arabia
- South Africa
- Rest of Middle East & Africa
Key Takeaways:
- Market Estimates & Forecast for 10 years from 2025 to 2035.
- Annualized revenues and regional level analysis for each market segment.
- Detailed analysis of geographical landscape with Country level analysis of major regions.
- Competitive landscape with information on major players in the market.
- Analysis of key business strategies and recommendations on future market approach.
- Analysis of competitive structure of the market.
- Demand side and supply side analysis of the market.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1. Global Specialty Malt Market Report Scope & Methodology
- 1.1. Research Objective
- 1.2. Research Methodology
- 1.2.1. Forecast Model
- 1.2.2. Desk Research
- 1.2.3. Top Down and Bottom-Up Approach
- 1.3. Research Attributes
- 1.4. Scope of the Study
- 1.4.1. Market Definition
- 1.4.2. Market Segmentation
- 1.5. Research Assumption
- 1.5.1. Inclusion & Exclusion
- 1.5.2. Limitations
- 1.5.3. Years Considered for the Study
Chapter 2. Executive Summary
- 2.1. CEO/CXO Standpoint
- 2.2. Strategic Insights
- 2.3. ESG Analysis
- 2.4. Key Findings
Chapter 3. Global Specialty Malt Market Forces Analysis
- 3.1. Market Forces Shaping The Global Specialty Malt Market (2024-2035)
- 3.2. Drivers
- 3.2.1. Rising demand for craft beer and premium beverages
- 3.2.2. Growth in the global bakery and distillery industry
- 3.3. Restraints
- 3.3.1. Seasonal dependency of raw materials (barley, etc.)
- 3.3.2. Higher production costs of specialty malts compared to base malts
- 3.4. Opportunities
- 3.4.1. Increasing demand for organic and clean-label ingredients
- 3.4.2. Technological advancements in malting and grain processing
Chapter 4. Global Specialty Malt Industry Analysis
- 4.1. Porter's 5 Forces Model
- 4.1.1. Bargaining Power of Buyer
- 4.1.2. Bargaining Power of Supplier
- 4.1.3. Threat of New Entrants
- 4.1.4. Threat of Substitutes
- 4.1.5. Competitive Rivalry
- 4.2. Porter's 5 Force Forecast Model (2024-2035)
- 4.3. PESTEL Analysis
- 4.3.1. Political
- 4.3.2. Economical
- 4.3.3. Social
- 4.3.4. Technological
- 4.3.5. Environmental
- 4.3.6. Legal
- 4.4. Top Investment Opportunities
- 4.5. Top Winning Strategies (2025)
- 4.6. Market Share Analysis (2024-2025)
- 4.7. Global Pricing Analysis and Trends 2025
- 4.8. Analyst Recommendation & Conclusion
Chapter 5. Global Specialty Malt Market Size & Forecasts by Malt Type 2025-2035
- 5.1. Market Overview
- 5.2. Pale Malt
- 5.2.1. Top Countries Breakdown Estimates & Forecasts, 2024-2035
- 5.2.2. Market Size Analysis, by Region, 2025-2035
- 5.3. Caramel Malt
- 5.4. Crystal Malt
- 5.5. Roasted Malt
- 5.6. Munich Malt
- 5.7. Vienna Malt
Chapter 6. Global Specialty Malt Market Size & Forecasts by Extraction Rate 2025-2035
- 6.1. Market Overview
- 6.2. Low Extraction Rate Malt
- 6.3. Medium Extraction Rate Malt
- 6.4. High Extraction Rate Malt
Chapter 7. Global Specialty Malt Market Size & Forecasts by Application 2025-2035
- 7.1. Market Overview
- 7.2. Brewing
- 7.3. Baking
- 7.4. Distilling
Chapter 8. Global Specialty Malt Market Size & Forecasts by Packaging 2025-2035
- 8.1. Market Overview
- 8.2. Bags
- 8.3. Sacks
- 8.4. Bulk
Chapter 9. Global Specialty Malt Market Size & Forecasts by Organic Status 2025-2035
- 9.1. Market Overview
- 9.2. Organic Specialty Malt
- 9.3. Conventional Specialty Malt
Chapter 10. Global Specialty Malt Market Size & Forecasts by Region 2025-2035
- 10.1. Specialty Malt Market, Regional Market Snapshot
- 10.2. Top Leading & Emerging Countries
- 10.3. North America Specialty Malt Market
- 10.3.1. U.S. Specialty Malt Market
- 10.3.1.1. Malt Type Breakdown Size & Forecasts, 2025-2035
- 10.3.1.2. Application Breakdown Size & Forecasts, 2025-2035
- 10.3.2. Canada Specialty Malt Market
- 10.3.2.1. Malt Type Breakdown Size & Forecasts, 2025-2035
- 10.3.2.2. Application Breakdown Size & Forecasts, 2025-2035
- 10.4. Europe Specialty Malt Market
- 10.4.1. UK Specialty Malt Market
- 10.4.2. Germany Specialty Malt Market
- 10.4.3. France Specialty Malt Market
- 10.4.4. Spain Specialty Malt Market
- 10.4.5. Italy Specialty Malt Market
- 10.4.6. Rest of Europe Specialty Malt Market
- 10.5. Asia Pacific Specialty Malt Market
- 10.5.1. China Specialty Malt Market
- 10.5.2. India Specialty Malt Market
- 10.5.3. Japan Specialty Malt Market
- 10.5.4. Australia Specialty Malt Market
- 10.5.5. South Korea Specialty Malt Market
- 10.5.6. Rest of Asia Pacific Specialty Malt Market
- 10.6. Latin America Specialty Malt Market
- 10.6.1. Brazil Specialty Malt Market
- 10.6.2. Mexico Specialty Malt Market
- 10.7. Middle East & Africa Specialty Malt Market
- 10.7.1. UAE Specialty Malt Market
- 10.7.2. Saudi Arabia Specialty Malt Market
- 10.7.3. South Africa Specialty Malt Market
- 10.7.4. Rest of Middle East & Africa Specialty Malt Market
Chapter 11. Competitive Intelligence
- 11.1. Top Market Strategies
- 11.2. Briess Malt & Ingredients Co.
- 11.2.1. Company Overview
- 11.2.2. Key Executives
- 11.2.3. Company Snapshot
- 11.2.4. Financial Performance (Subject to Data Availability)
- 11.2.5. Product/Services Port
- 11.2.6. Recent Development
- 11.2.7. Market Strategies
- 11.2.8. SWOT Analysis
- 11.3. Malteurop Groupe
- 11.4. Viking Malt
- 11.5. Simpsons Malt Ltd.
- 11.6. Cargill, Incorporated
- 11.7. IREKS GmbH
- 11.8. Bairds Malt Limited
- 11.9. GrainCorp Limited
- 11.10. Axereal (Boortmalt)
- 11.11. Rahr Corporation
- 11.12. Muntons PLC
- 11.13. Bestmalz (Palatia Malz GmbH)
- 11.14. Soufflet Group
- 11.15. Thomas Fawcett & Sons Ltd.
- 11.16. Castle Malting