Soufflet Malt to invest US$131.9M in new malthouse in India
New digitalized facility will strengthen local malt production, create jobs, and support India’s expanding brewing and food industries.
INDIA – Soufflet Malt, the world’s leading maltster, has announced plans to build a new malting facility in South Rajasthan, India, backed by an investment of Rs 1,200 crore (US$131.98M), as it seeks to expand capacity and support the country’s food and beverage sector.
The company said customer contracts have already been secured, ensuring strong demand from brewers, distillers, and food manufacturers.
The new malthouse will initially produce 110,000 tonnes of malt annually, with a second phase expansion planned to further increase output. The first phase is scheduled for completion in early 2028 and will strengthen malt availability while reducing reliance on imports.
The investment aligns with Soufflet Malt’s Maltiply 2030 strategy, which focuses on expanding malt applications. Digital innovation will play a central role in the project through Maltimize, the company’s digital platform designed to optimize production efficiency and quality.
According to the company, Maltimize uses analytics and artificial intelligence to enhance operational performance by optimizing process duration, analyzing yields, monitoring energy consumption, and improving product quality. Digitalized grain handling and traceability systems will also enhance transparency and operational efficiency.
Sustainability is a key pillar of the project. The facility will prioritize energy sources, including biofuel for heat generation, and will implement a zero liquid discharge system. Advanced water management and carbon reduction measures are also planned to minimize impact.
The new facility is expected to create 400 direct and indirect jobs, along with 700 additional roles across the supply chain. Logistics providers, warehousing partners, and agricultural suppliers are also expected to benefit from increased business activity in Rajasthan.
Soufflet Malt will collaborate with more than 50,000 farmers across India to promote sustainable agriculture and improve barley yields.
The company said farmers will gain access to high-yield barley varieties, agronomic expertise, and improved market opportunities, helping to enhance income stability and rural development.
At full capacity following expansion, the facility is expected to source up to 250,000 tonnes of barley annually, strengthening local supply chains and supporting the long-term growth of India’s malt industry.
Jorge Solis, CEO of Soufflet Malt, said the investment reflects growth in India. “Together, we are creating jobs, strengthening agriculture and supporting the region’s long-term development,” he said.
“Aligned with India’s ambition to modernize agriculture and enhance food security, this investment brings our agronomic and industrial expertise together with advanced technologies to deliver a state-of-the-art malthouse and unleash the full potential of malt in India.”
Soufflet Malt currently operates a smaller facility in Alwar, Rajasthan, with an annual capacity of 18,000 tonnes. The company has worked with local farmers there since 2014.
It has also recently begun construction of a €100 million malting facility in Midvaal, Gauteng, South Africa, expanding its footprint further globally.
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