Nov 22, 2024

US Barley Farmers Struggle as Beer Consumption Declines

Barley farmers in the United States are facing a challenging market as beer loses its share to hard seltzers and other alcoholic beverages, leading to decreased demand for malt barley. According to a Reuters report, the popularity of fruit-flavored hard seltzers and other alternatives has significantly contributed to this trend.

The impact on U.S. barley imports has been notable. Data from the IndexBox platform shows that import values in 2023 reached $156.5 million, down from $203.9 million in 2022. The top source of barley imports into the U.S. remains Canada, accounting for $153.6 million of the total in 2023. Other contributors include Mexico with $1.8 million and Germany with $694.5 thousand.

The decline in beer consumption, the lowest since the 1970s, has resulted in a glut of barley, particularly affecting farmers in the Plains states. This oversupply, exacerbated by recent excellent barley crops, has led to depressed prices, with U.S. malt barley prices falling from around $7 per bushel last year to under $5 per bushel this year depending on the location.

These economic strains have resulted in decreased planting, with the latest U.S. crop report revealing a 22% reduction in barley acres compared to the previous year. In North Dakota, a significant producer, this decline is nearly 50%. With surplus supplies, farmers face financial challenges in managing their operations.

The brewing industry, particularly large companies like Anheuser-Busch InBev, has reduced U.S. barley contracts due to the oversupply. Although committed to American farmers, with $700 million in annual ingredient purchases, the exact impact of changing beer consumption on contracts remains unclear.

As younger generations increasingly adopt a "sober curious" lifestyle, embraced by millennials and Gen-Zers, the beer industry must adapt to a shift in consumer behavior to remain viable. This landscape change continuously poses hurdles for farmers across the U.S., prompting them to seek alternative avenues for their barley production and maintain financial stability.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the barley market in the U.S.. Within it, you will discover the latest data on market trends and opportunities by country, consumption, production and price developments, as well as the global trade (imports and exports). The forecast exhibits the market prospects through 2030.

Product coverage:

  • FCL 44 - Barley

Country coverage:

    Data coverage:

    • Market volume and value
    • Per Capita consumption
    • Forecast of the market dynamics in the medium term
    • Trade (exports and imports) in the U.S.
    • Export and import prices
    • Market trends, drivers and restraints
    • Key market players and their profiles

    Reasons to buy this report:

    • Take advantage of the latest data
    • Find deeper insights into current market developments
    • Discover vital success factors affecting the market

    This report is designed for manufacturers, distributors, importers, and wholesalers, as well as for investors, consultants and advisors.

    In this report, you can find information that helps you to make informed decisions on the following issues:

    1. How to diversify your business and benefit from new market opportunities
    2. How to load your idle production capacity
    3. How to boost your sales on overseas markets
    4. How to increase your profit margins
    5. How to make your supply chain more sustainable
    6. How to reduce your production and supply chain costs
    7. How to outsource production to other countries
    8. How to prepare your business for global expansion

    While doing this research, we combine the accumulated expertise of our analysts and the capabilities of artificial intelligence. The AI-based platform, developed by our data scientists, constitutes the key working tool for business analysts, empowering them to discover deep insights and ideas from the marketing data.

    1. 1. INTRODUCTION

      Making Data-Driven Decisions to Grow Your Business

      1. REPORT DESCRIPTION
      2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND THE AI PLATFORM
      3. DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
      4. GLOSSARY AND SPECIFIC TERMS
    2. 2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

      A Quick Overview of Market Performance

      1. KEY FINDINGS
      2. MARKET TRENDS This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional EditionPRO
    3. 3. MARKET OVERVIEW

      Understanding the Current State of The Market and its Prospects

      1. MARKET SIZE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
      2. MARKET STRUCTURE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
      3. TRADE BALANCE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
      4. PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
      5. MARKET FORECAST TO 2035
    4. 4. MOST PROMISING PRODUCTS FOR DIVERSIFICATION

      Finding New Products to Diversify Your Business

      1. TOP PRODUCTS TO DIVERSIFY YOUR BUSINESS
      2. BEST-SELLING PRODUCTS
      3. MOST CONSUMED PRODUCTS
      4. MOST TRADED PRODUCTS
      5. MOST PROFITABLE PRODUCTS FOR EXPORTS
    5. 5. MOST PROMISING SUPPLYING COUNTRIES

      Choosing the Best Countries to Establish Your Sustainable Supply Chain

      1. TOP COUNTRIES TO SOURCE YOUR PRODUCT
      2. TOP PRODUCING COUNTRIES
      3. COUNTRIES WITH TOP YIELDS
      4. TOP EXPORTING COUNTRIES
      5. LOW-COST EXPORTING COUNTRIES
    6. 6. MOST PROMISING OVERSEAS MARKETS

      Choosing the Best Countries to Boost Your Export

      1. TOP OVERSEAS MARKETS FOR EXPORTING YOUR PRODUCT
      2. TOP CONSUMING MARKETS
      3. UNSATURATED MARKETS
      4. TOP IMPORTING MARKETS
      5. MOST PROFITABLE MARKETS
    7. 7. PRODUCTION

      The Latest Trends and Insights into The Industry

      1. PRODUCTION VOLUME AND VALUE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
    8. 8. IMPORTS

      The Largest Import Supplying Countries

      1. IMPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
      2. IMPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024)
      3. IMPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024)
    9. 9. EXPORTS

      The Largest Destinations for Exports

      1. EXPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
      2. EXPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024)
      3. EXPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024)
    10. 10. PROFILES OF MAJOR PRODUCERS

      The Largest Producers on The Market and Their Profiles

    11. LIST OF TABLES

      1. Key Findings In 2024
      2. Market Volume, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
      3. Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
      4. Per Capita Consumption: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
      5. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012-2024
      6. Imports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012-2024
      7. Import Prices, By Country, 2012-2024
      8. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012-2024
      9. Exports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012-2024
      10. Exports Prices, By Country, 2012-2024
    12. LIST OF FIGURES

      1. Market Volume, in Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
      2. Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
      3. Market Structure – Domestic Supply Vs. Imports, in Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
      4. Market Structure – Domestic Supply Vs. Imports, in Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
      5. Trade Balance, in Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
      6. Trade Balance, in Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
      7. Per Capita Consumption: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
      8. Market Volume Forecast to 2035
      9. Market Value Forecast to 2035
      10. Market Size and Growth, by Product
      11. Average Per Capita Consumption, by Product
      12. Exports and Growth, by Product
      13. Export Prices and Growth, by Product
      14. Production Volume and Growth
      15. Yield and Growth
      16. Exports and Growth
      17. Export Prices and Growth
      18. Market Size and Growth
      19. Per Capita Consumption
      20. Imports and Growth
      21. Import Prices
      22. Production, in Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
      23. Production, in Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
      24. Harvested Area: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
      25. Yield: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
      26. Imports, in Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
      27. Imports, in Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
      28. Imports, in Physical Terms, by Country, 2024
      29. Imports, in Physical Terms, by Country, 2012-2024
      30. Imports, in Value Terms, by Country, 2012-2024
      31. Import Prices, by Country, 2012-2024
      32. Exports, in Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
      33. Exports, in Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
      34. Exports, in Physical Terms, by Country, 2024
      35. Exports, in Physical Terms, by Country, 2012-2024
      36. Exports, in Value Terms, by Country, 2012-2024
      37. Export Prices, by Country, 2012-2024

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    Free Data: Barley - United States