Barley Market Size, Share | Industry Report [2033]

Barley Market Overview

Global barley market size is estimated at USD 23188.41 million in 2024 and expected to rise to USD 27190.34 million by 2033, experiencing a CAGR of 1.8%.

The global barley market is supported by the cultivation of over 150 million metric tons of barley annually across more than 70 countries. As of 2023, global barley production was estimated at 147 million metric tons, with European nations leading the output, contributing more than 56 million metric tons. Barley is among the top five cereal grains globally, used primarily for animal feed, malt production, and food consumption. In 2023, more than 70% of barley produced was used in animal feed and brewing. Demand is surging in the Asia-Pacific region, where expanding beer production and livestock farming are driving barley imports. The U.S. alone harvested approximately 2.8 million acres of barley in 2023, producing over 175 million bushels. Barley prices fluctuated between USD 220 to USD 280 per metric ton during 2023 due to global supply chain shifts. Increased interest in plant-based foods has further fueled barley flour and flakes consumption, particularly in health-conscious urban markets. Moreover, the resilience of barley to cold weather has promoted its cultivation in high-latitude countries, enhancing its global adaptability. The rising application in functional foods and sustainable livestock nutrition is reinforcing market strength globally.

Key Findings

Top Driver reason: Increased demand from the brewing industry due to rising beer consumption globally.

Top Country/Region: Europe leads the barley market with over 56 million metric tons of production annually.

Top Segment: Pearl Barley dominates processing applications due to its utility in brewing and food production.

Barley Market Trends

One of the dominant trends in the barley market is the rising demand from the brewing industry. As of 2023, approximately 30% of all barley harvested was used in malt production for beer, equating to more than 45 million metric tons globally. In countries like Germany, the Czech Republic, and the United Kingdom, malt barley demand has surged to over 6 million metric tons annually, driven by growing beer exports and local consumption.

Another growing trend is the adoption of barley-based food products. Barley flour, flakes, and grits are increasingly used in breakfast cereals and bakery products. In 2023, retail sales of barley-containing health foods rose by 18% in urban North America, driven by consumer preference for high-fiber and low-glycemic index foods. The health benefits of beta-glucan in barley, which reduces cholesterol and improves digestion, have made it a trending ingredient in wellness food.

Sustainable agriculture practices have led to an increase in the cultivation of hulless and hulled barley varieties. These require fewer inputs and are more drought-resistant, promoting production in semi-arid regions. For instance, Canada increased its hulless barley cultivation area by 9% in 2023 compared to the previous year.

Export dynamics have also changed, with countries like Australia exporting over 7 million metric tons of barley in 2023, mostly to China and the Middle East. Barley imports in China surged to 9.5 million metric tons due to reduced domestic feed grain availability.

Barley Market Dynamics

DRIVER

Rising demand from the brewing industry.

Barley remains a cornerstone for malt production, essential in the global brewing sector. In 2023, the global malt demand exceeded 24 million metric tons, of which over 90% was derived from barley. Major beer-consuming nations like China, the U.S., and Brazil contributed significantly to this demand. The expanding craft beer industry is amplifying the requirement for high-quality malted barley. Over 8,500 microbreweries in the United States alone used malted barley as a key ingredient, requiring over 1.1 million metric tons of malting barley in 2023. This rising demand is projected to remain consistent due to growing consumer interest in local, specialty beers.

RESTRAINT

Volatility in climate affecting yield.

Barley is highly sensitive to extreme weather conditions such as drought, excessive rainfall, and frost. In 2023, adverse weather in Argentina led to a 13% decline in barley yield, reducing production to below 4.5 million metric tons. Similarly, parts of Eastern Europe experienced a 10% decrease in output due to prolonged droughts. These variations cause unpredictability in global supply and pricing. Barley cultivation is dependent on consistent seasonal rainfall; disruptions in this pattern impact seeding, growth stages, and final yields.

OPPORTUNITY

Expansion in plant-based food sector.

Barley-based foods are gaining traction among health-conscious and vegan consumers. In 2023, demand for barley flour grew by 15% in Asia-Pacific due to rising consumption of alternative flour products. Barley milk and meat substitutes using barley protein also gained commercial viability, with 200+ new barley-based food items launched in global markets. Product innovation focusing on barley’s health benefits, such as high-fiber and cholesterol-lowering capabilities, is expected to create significant opportunities for manufacturers and food processors in emerging markets.

CHALLENGE

Price competitiveness with other grains.

Barley faces stiff competition from wheat, corn, and sorghum in both food and feed applications. For instance, in 2023, global corn prices dropped by 8% while barley prices rose by 5%, leading many livestock farmers to substitute barley with more economical alternatives. In animal feed formulations, maize is often preferred due to its higher energy value. Moreover, limited consumer awareness about the health benefits of barley relative to quinoa or oats restricts its penetration in premium food segments.

Barley Market Segmentation

The barley market is segmented based on type and application. By type, the market includes Quick Pearl Barley, Pearl Barley, Barley Flour, Barley Flakes, Barley Grits, Hulless Barley, and Hulled Barley. By application, it is segmented into the Animal Feed Industry and Food and Beverages Industry. Each segment exhibits distinct growth behaviors based on regional demand and utility.

By Type

Quick Pearl Barley: Quick pearl barley undergoes partial cooking, reducing the cooking time by 50%. Its popularity in North American foodservice chains rose by 22% in 2023, where time-efficient grains are in demand. Over 800 metric tons of quick-cook barley were sold in retail stores in the U.S. last year.
Pearl Barley: Pearl barley represents the largest share of processed barley products. In 2023, pearl barley constituted over 25% of barley processed globally, amounting to approximately 36 million metric tons. It is extensively used in soups, risottos, and malted products, with high consumption in Europe and the Middle East.
Barley Flour: Barley flour is increasingly used as a substitute for wheat in gluten-sensitive diets. More than 3.2 million metric tons of barley were processed into flour in 2023, with India, the U.S., and Australia leading in flour-based barley production.
Barley Flakes: Barley flakes have witnessed growing demand in breakfast cereals. In 2023, retail sales grew by 12% in urban Europe, where over 1 million boxes of barley-based cereals were sold monthly.
Barley Grits: Barley grits are used in traditional dishes in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Kazakhstan and Russia consumed over 600,000 metric tons of grits in 2023 for culinary and animal feed uses.
Hulless Barley: Hulless barley, which does not require dehulling, saw a 14% increase in acreage in Canada in 2023. Around 5.5 million bushels of hulless barley were harvested globally last year.
Hulled Barley: Hulled barley is a whole grain variant retaining its bran, used extensively in health foods. Consumption in South Korea and Japan exceeded 1.8 million metric tons in 2023.

By Application

Animal Feed Industry: The animal feed industry consumed over 70 million metric tons of barley globally in 2023. Russia, China, and Saudi Arabia are major consumers, each importing over 3 million metric tons. Barley’s high fiber and moderate protein content make it suitable for ruminants and swine.
Food and Beverages Industry: The food and beverage segment accounted for around 35 million metric tons of barley consumption in 2023. Breweries in Germany and the U.S. alone consumed over 9 million metric tons for malt production. Meanwhile, barley-based foods are expanding in Asia-Pacific, growing by 18% in 2023.

Barley Market Regional Outlook

Barley cultivation and consumption show strong regional variations due to climate, consumption habits, and industrial use.

North America

In North America, the U.S. harvested over 2.8 million acres of barley in 2023, producing more than 175 million bushels. Canada, meanwhile, produced approximately 10.4 million metric tons, 40% of which was used domestically for feed and brewing.

Europe

Europe leads the global barley market with over 56 million metric tons produced in 2023. France (11.5 million metric tons), Germany (10.2 million metric tons), and the UK (6.8 million metric tons) are major producers. Barley is used extensively for brewing and livestock feed.

Asia-Pacific

Asia-Pacific is a significant importer of barley. China imported 9.5 million metric tons in 2023, mainly from Australia. Japan and South Korea collectively imported over 2.2 million metric tons. Barley is used for feed and increasingly in health foods.

Middle East & Africa

The Middle East relies heavily on barley imports. Saudi Arabia alone imported over 6.5 million metric tons in 2023 for animal feed. North African countries such as Morocco and Tunisia produced a combined 2.8 million metric tons.

List of Top Barley Market Companies

Cargill
Crisp Malting
GrainCorp
Grain Millers
Groupe Soufflet
Maltexco

Top Two by Market Share

Cargill: Handles over 15 million metric tons of barley annually for feed and malt production across global operations.

GrainCorp: Processes and exports more than 4 million metric tons of barley from Australia annually.

Investment Analysis and Opportunities

The barley market has witnessed substantial investment inflows across production, processing, and export infrastructure between 2022 and 2024. Over USD 1.5 billion was allocated globally for barley-specific malt plant expansions, particularly in Europe and North America. In 2023, Cargill announced investment in a new malting plant in the U.S. Midwest capable of processing 650,000 metric tons of barley annually. Similarly, GrainCorp expanded its Australian storage facilities, increasing export capacity by 1.2 million metric tons to support booming Chinese demand.

Technological investments are focused on barley genetics and crop yield improvement. Over 20 research projects were active in 2023 targeting high-yield, drought-tolerant, and disease-resistant barley varieties. These programs are primarily supported by public-private partnerships in Canada, Australia, and the EU. New varieties released in 2023 showed yield improvements of 8–12% and a 15% reduction in water requirements.

Asia-Pacific presents high investment potential, especially in barley-based food and beverage manufacturing. India, Japan, and China saw over 150 new barley-based health products launched in 2023, prompting food processing companies to expand barley procurement networks. Multinational F&B players have invested in barley sourcing agreements in Australia and Kazakhstan to meet growing Asian demand.

Barley’s increasing relevance in animal nutrition has drawn investments in feed mills and logistics. In 2023, Saudi Arabia allocated over USD 600 million to enhance barley storage and blending facilities to reduce dependency on feed corn. In Kazakhstan, feed manufacturers expanded capacity by 15% to accommodate barley feed formulation.

New Product Development

Innovation in barley-based product development is reshaping the global grain market. In 2023, over 220 new barley food and beverage products were launched worldwide, up from 160 in 2022. These innovations span across food, feed, malt, and health nutrition sectors.

Barley flour is now used in gluten-free and low-carb formulations for breads, snacks, and breakfast cereals. New high-fiber breads launched in Germany and the UK contain up to 40% barley flour, offering enhanced digestive benefits. Barley pancakes and pizza bases entered over 2,000 supermarket chains across Europe in 2023, representing a 28% increase in product variety.

Barley milk has emerged as a notable innovation. In 2023, plant-based dairy companies in the U.S. launched four new barley milk products fortified with calcium and omega-3s. These beverages target lactose-intolerant and vegan consumers, with initial sales exceeding 500,000 units in the first six months. In Asia, barley milk received significant traction, particularly in South Korea and Japan, with 15 new SKUs launched during 2023.

Malting companies are innovating specialty malt barley for craft brewers. Crisp Malting and Maltexco introduced three new malt profiles in 2023, catering to small breweries seeking unique flavor profiles. These specialty malts have distinct roasting levels and enzyme concentrations, allowing microbrewers to diversify beer offerings.

In the animal feed sector, research-based feed companies developed pelleted barley feed blends fortified with vitamins and minerals for ruminants. Trials conducted in Canada and Australia in 2023 showed a 7% increase in cattle weight gain when using barley-based feed versus traditional maize-based diets.

Five Recent Developments

GrainCorp Expansion (2023): GrainCorp expanded its barley export facilities in New South Wales, Australia, increasing throughput by 1.2 million metric tons to serve growing Chinese demand.
Barley Milk Launch in the U.S. (2023): A U.S.-based plant dairy firm launched a new barley milk line in five flavors. Initial demand exceeded 500,000 units within six months, prompting national retail expansion.
Saudi Arabia Storage Investment (2024): Saudi Arabia invested USD 600 million into modernizing barley storage and feed blending infrastructure to handle over 7 million metric tons annually.
Hulless Barley Seed Approval (2023): Canada approved two new drought-tolerant hulless barley cultivars, offering 11% higher yields and reduced input costs for prairie farmers.
New Malt Varieties by Crisp Malting (2023): Crisp Malting introduced three malted barley variants targeting the craft beer segment, enhancing flavor options for over 4,000 breweries in Europe.

Report Coverage of Barley Market

This report provides an exhaustive analysis of the global barley market, including production, processing, segmentation, regional trends, company profiles, and future opportunities. It offers detailed insights into the market's supply chain, demand drivers, innovation pipelines, and investment trends using fact-based observations and quantifiable data.

The scope includes an in-depth examination of seven barley types: Quick Pearl Barley, Pearl Barley, Barley Flour, Barley Flakes, Barley Grits, Hulless Barley, and Hulled Barley. Each type is evaluated based on production volumes, applications, geographic demand, and consumer preferences. By application, the report covers both the animal feed industry and the food & beverages industry, analyzing usage patterns, growth enablers, and processing trends across key consumer segments.

Geographically, the report presents a granular breakdown of North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. These regions are assessed for their production capabilities, import-export dynamics, consumption behavior, and ongoing investment initiatives. For instance, Europe leads global barley production with 56+ million metric tons, while Asia-Pacific emerges as a top importer with China and Japan leading demand growth.

The report also provides strategic insight into top companies—Cargill and GrainCorp—highlighting their barley processing volumes, export focus, and product innovation pipelines. Investment and opportunity analysis includes detailed tracking of new barley-based food and beverage startups, feed formulations, and genetic seed research programs globally.

New product development is covered extensively, from barley milk and probiotic drinks to quick-cooking barley and functional supplements. The report catalogs over 200 new SKUs introduced in 2023, providing factual updates on formulation trends and market response. Five recent market developments highlight expansion strategies, storage upgrades, and product innovation.