Barley Market, Analysis By Type (Hulled, Grits, Flakes, Flour, and Others), By Application (Personal Care, Food & Beverages, Animal Feed, Pharmaceuticals, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2024-2032

Barley Market is an edible cereal grain grown in temperate climates worldwide. According to the National Bio-diversity Network (NBN), U.K., globally, 30% of barley production is used as a source of fermentable material for certain distilled beverages and as a component in several foods such as stews, soups, and barley bread and 70% of barley production is used as animal fodder. In addition, barley serves as an essential source of malt for alcoholic beverages. Barley contains high amounts of carbohydrates, moderate amounts of calcium, phosphorus, and protein, and lesser amounts of vitamin B.

Barley included in daily diets has numerous health benefits. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), diets that are high in barley play a vital role in lowering total cholesterol levels, reducing risk factors related to diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and lowering glycemic index, which assist in insulin and blood glucose management, helpful for gut health, and weight gain. The health benefits of barley have been verified and supported by organizations such as USDA, Health Canada, Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ), and European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). 

The rising awareness among consumers about the high nutritional benefits of whole grain consumption and its increased incorporation in healthy diets support the barley market growth. The increased use of barley for the production of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages is further expected to drive the growth of the market. The increased consumption of barley as a health product, as it helps in weight loss and increases strength, is an ongoing trend boosting market growth. The increased pest and disease infestation, decline in soil fertility, and adverse climate changes are some of the significant factors restraining the Barley Industry growth.

Impact of COVID-19 on the Barley Market

The pandemic negatively impacted the global barley market The businesses that used barley as a component to produce various food and beverage items, such as alcoholic beverages, faced issues such as shortage of barley during COVID-19. The disturbance in the transport and supply of barley further led to the unavailability of barley as a raw material for many industries. Therefore, post-pandemic demand for barley surged due to increased demand for various products such as alcoholic beverages, breads, soups, and other health products.

Key Insights 

The report will cover the following key insights:

• Overview of parent/related market


• Partnership, merger, and acquisition by key barley companies


• Key trends and innovation


• Regulatory analysis


• Impact of COVID-19 on the barley market

Analysis by Application

Based on application, the market is segmented into personal care, food & beverages, animal feed, pharmaceuticals, and others. The animal feed segment is anticipated to hold a major share of the global barley market, as barley is highly used in animal feed as a nutritious grain and is fed as a supplement to forage. In addition, barley is considered the primary source of protein and energy in cattle diets. According to the data of the International Grains Council (IGC), the world barley production was 159 million tons in 2020/21, out of which 7.4 million tons were used in the food industry, 109 million tons were used in animal feed production, 30.7 million tons used in industrial areas, and remaining 10.6 million tons in other areas. Thus, the animal feed segment is expected to witness significant growth in the global barley industry in the coming years.

Analysis by Region

Based on geography, North America is anticipated to hold a significant barley market share, owing to the higher consumption of alcoholic beverages such as beer, whiskey, wine, and others. Developed countries, such as Italy, Spain, and others, are also witnessing a higher adoption rate of barley in the food and beverage industry. According to the USDA, the exports of wine, beer, and spirits in the U.S. in 2022 accounted for USD 4.19 billion. Therefore, it specifies that huge amount of exports of beer and other alcoholic beverages requires a large quantity of barley for the production of these alcoholic beverages. Thus, barley requirement in North America is considerably higher. Further, according to the USDA, barley production in the U.S. in 2022 was 3.79 million tons. Therefore, the substantial amount of barley production and consumption results in North America accounting for a significant share of the global barley industry.

Key Market Players

• Cargill Group (U.S.)


• Malteurop Group (New Zealand)


• Ireks Gmbh (Germany)


• Crisp Malting Group (U.K.)


• Muntons Plc (U.K.)


• Maltexco S.A. (Chile)


• Grain Millers Inc. (U.S.)


• Malt Products Corporation (U.S.)


• Soufflet Group (France)


• Briess Malt & Ingredients Co. (U.S.)


• Global Malt Gmbh & Co. Kg (Germany)

are some of the key players operating in the global barley market.

Barley Market Segmentation Analysis

Key Industrial Developments

• September 2019, Ardent Mills, a flour-milling and ingredient company, and PepsiCo agreed to provide alternative grains, such as sorghum, barley, millet, and rye, which were the upcoming products of these companies. Therefore, both companies will add more products containing these alternative grains as ingredients to their portfolio.


• November 2022, Salalah Mills Company launched barley flour, which is rich in vitamins, dietary fiber, and minerals. It is used to prepare baking items such as yeast bread, flatbread, Omani bread, and sliced bread.