2006-07-13
Author: GWR Ag Network
Over the next 2 weeks the Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre in Winnipeg is hosting a delegation of Chinese malting and brewing industry reps. The group is here to take part in the third China-Canada Malting Barley Program which focuses on the benefits of buying Canadian. Managing Director Rob McCaig says China is already a lucrative market, and the growth potential in the future is enormous. Per capita beer consumption in china is 18 liters per year, considered very low by world standards. McCaig says as the population becomes more affluent that figure will increase, and in turn mean more malting barley will need to be imported by the country. He notes Chinese malting barley demand is growing about 10 percent per year, and a vast majority of the grain is imported