Grains Australia is engaging with brewing and malting companies in China to help strengthen our barley as a preferred choice for Chinese customers.
As part of an initiative that began in 2025, Barley and Pulses Senior Markets Manager Mary Raynes recently engaged with customers in China to continue gathering objective insights into the malting barley quality and functionality attributes they value.
The Chinese industry is supportive of the initiative and for further engagement and technical exchange from the Australian industry. Most of China’s largest malting and brewing companies are taking part in the surveys and collaborative discussions. The last time the Australian grains industry captured China’s barley quality preference was in 2016.
The insights gathered will assist Australian industry decision making to make sure new Australian barley varieties meet the needs of brewers and maltsters in China.
Discussions continue to be positive, with strong ongoing interest in Australian barley. Brewers and maltsters expressed a clear interest in continued engagement and collaboration with the Australian barley industry.
Initial insights into Barley customer quality preferences in China:
• There is an increasing focus on sustainability in the Chinese brewing and malting industry.
• Chinese brewing and malting companies are interested in continuing to trial new Australian barley varieties.
• Demand for Australian malting barley remains strong amid softening beer demand among younger generations.
Detailed insights will be analysed and communicated to the industry. This initiative will provide strong foundations to further position Australian barley as the preferred choice in China, which is a major market for Australia. We look forward to further strengthening our relationships with Chinese barley customers on behalf of Australian growers.
China: a world-leading brewing industry
China’s brewing industry is a global powerhouse, with about 4 mmt of malt and 350 billion litres of beer produced each year on average.
Australia exports 4.6 mmt of barley worth about AU$1.5 billion to China. Australian barley accounts for around 57% of total barley imports to China (average figures). Australian malting barley supplies about 60–70% of Chinese malting requirements, equating to approximately 3.25 mmt each year on average.