A malting facility capable of producing 110,000 metric tonnes per year will reportedly close, in large part due to the downturn in the Scotch whisky industry.
The former Tivoli malthouse in Hamburg-Eidelstedt is owned by UK-based Crisp Malt, which in turn is owned by Canadian outfit Richardson International.
According to industry outlet Inside.Beer the German facility will close by the end of March 2027, with a "major factor" the sharp downturn in the whisky industry in Scotland.
A substantial proportion of the malt produced in Hamburg was exported to Scotland, where Crisp Malt is an important supplier to distilleries.
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There is weakening demand and growing inventories as the sector faces a downturn, meaning the Hamburg facility has been operating significantly below its installed capacity of 110,000 metric tonnes per year.
Single malt exports fell by 12% in the first half of 2025, and were 40% below their 2022 peak.
Diageo has paused production at its Roseisle Maltings facility near Elgin to balance capacity with inventory, and Pencaitland Maltings in Tranent announced its closure in November 2025.
Plans to bring a new maltings to Glenrothes were delayed due to the downturn, with Simpsons Malt asking Moray Council to expand its planning permission for another five years due to "ongoing uncertainty".
As recently as 2024 Crisp Malt itself announced plans to expand, quadrupling production by 2027 at its Portgordon site, but is still going through the process at Moray council.