In Ethiopia, the production of malt for the manufacture of beer is still in deficit.
In fact, it only covers 30% of industry demand despite the constant growth of the barley sector.
The French group Soufflet has just opened its malt house to meet this challenge.
In Ethiopia, the French agro-industrial group Soufflet started producing malt at its “Soufflet Malt Ethiopia” factory located in the suburbs of the capital Addis Ababa.
The unit has an initial production capacity of 60,000 tonnes of malt which will eventually be increased to 110,000 tonnes.
It should obtain all its barley supplies from the local sector, which is one of the most dynamic in the world.
Ethiopia is indeed the leading producer of barley in Africa with 2.3 million tons per year and the 11 th worldwide.
According to the group, the plant will reduce imports of malt needed to make beer, which currently account for 70% of the supply and provide 300 jobs.
It should also benefit from a brewing market which is growing by 15% per year, a rate well above the continental average which stands at 5% per year.
Overall, it should be noted that this launch is part of Soufflet’s strategy, which aims to develop its malt activities beyond Europe.
The company is also a major player in the global cereals market with 27 factories located in Europe, Asia and South America.
