New malting plants for craft brewers in Mexico

Craft beers have not only become a trend in restaurants and bars, they have also led to the creation of new businesses around them, such as independent malting, with three projects under development in Puebla, Hidalgo and Michoacán .

In an interview with Notimex , the director of the Association of Brewers of Mexico (ACERMEX), Paz Austin , said that this has been made possible because of a growing demand for this type of product. Another factor is the consolidation of micro-breweries and an increase in production.

Last year

, craft beer production reached a total amount of 108,723 hectoliters , which represented a 65% growth with around 650 producers in the country.

"There are three more malting plants currently in development in Puebla, Michoacán, and Hidalgo. The first malting plant will have the capacity to supply 10 craft breweries . Acermex has 100 affiliates, there are more than 700 breweries, so we need 70 more malting plants ," he said.

According to the director, this sector imports almost 100% of its inputs . Starting this type of business used to be impractical because there wasn’t enough demand for the business model to work, but given the craft beer market’s current growth, it is now feasable to do it.

Austin stressed that the creation of malting will kickstart a new industry which will allow for the craft market to continue growing. With the appearance of this production chain, more and more Mexican beers will be made.

Tearing down walls with craft beer

"Last year, craft beers accounted for 0.1% of the beer market , registering a double-digit growth. Many Mexican entrepreneurs have decided to invest in the craft beer market, which has shown a rapid development for the last six or eight years. Independent brewing companies have increased their production and are working in new projects,” he said.

However, he considered that the main challenge for the sector in Mexico is still the subject of taxes. Although in terms of competition there are still many barriers to break, another important goal is to balance shelf prices, taxes, and opportunities.

According to data from Acermex, 53 percent of the malt used by artisans comes from Europe, 36 percent from the United States and Canada, 8.0 percent from Mexico, 3.0 percent from the rest of the American continent, and 1.0 percent from other regions of the world .

While 76 percent of hops originates in the United States and Canada and 32 percent in the European continent , only 1.0 percent is Mexican ; 59 percent of the yeast is from North America, 32 percent from Europe, and 8.0 percent from national suppliers .

Last May , Maltería Central del Altiplano inaugurated the first independent malting plant in Mexico, which required an investment of 30 million pesos and will supply 10 craft breweries , with an initial production of 60 tons , with aims of reaching 1000 tons .

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