Boortmalt, the world's leading player in the production of malt
Antwerp was already the proud home of the world's largest malting plant in 2018, when Boortmalt added its fourth tower with an annual malt-production capacity of 470,000 tons. However, following the takeover of competitor Cargill Malt, the united group now produces an annual total of 3,000,000 tons, equivalent to no less than 100,000,000,000 pints of beer!
The number of malting plants has risen from 11 in the past, mainly in Europe, to 27 now, across five continents. This makes it easier to supply customers locally, and especially the beer and whisky industry. Another advantage is that this also allows the raw material for malt, namely barley, to be sourced locally. So, if the harvest is poor on one continent another can now lend a hand. This reduces the company's vulnerability.
In 1924, the Thirionet family founded Boortmalt in Boortmeerbeek. In 1986, it moved to the Port of Antwerp and, with the takeover of a grain transshipment company, a silo company and Cargill it has grown to its present billion-dollar status. Economically speaking, the merger is a smart move, as Antwerp has always been a grain import harbour and this has been of historical importance in beer production. Indeed, the headquarters and the innovation centre are to remain there.
The Antwerp site aims to continue its environmental progress in the production process, by halving its use of local water and with the installation of solar panels to charge 60 electric vehicles. Boortmalt may also benefit by responding to the demands of many small brewers to supply special malts.