Soufflet Malt will invest EUR 100 million (USD 118.2 million) in a new state-of-the-art malthouse in southern Rajasthan, reinforcing India’s position as a high-growth market for beer and beverages. The French maltster, the world’s largest, is targeting expanding consumption in India, which contrasts with declining volumes in parts of Europe where the company recently closed some of their production sites (inside.beer, 9.12.2025).
The first phase of the facility, scheduled for commissioning in early 2028, will have an annual production capacity of 110,000 tonnes of malt. A second phase is planned that could double output if demand continues to increase. Once fully expanded, the site is expected to source up to 250,000 tonnes of barley annually.
The project is being developed in partnership with United Breweries Limited, part of Heineken Company, to supply high-quality malt for brewing brands such as Kingfisher and Heineken. According to regulatory filings, the investment will strengthen backward integration, secure long-term malt supply and support the next phase of category growth in India.
The new malthouse will be powered by Soufflet Malt’s digital platform MALTimize, an AI-driven recommendation tool designed to optimise processing time, improve yields and monitor energy use. The project forms part of the company’s MALTiply 2030 strategy, which focuses on digital innovation, operational excellence and expanding malt applications beyond brewing into broader food and beverage segments.
The investment is expected to generate around 400 direct and indirect jobs, along with approximately 700 additional positions across the supply chain. More than 50,000 Indian farmers will be integrated into the sourcing network, supported by agronomic expertise, high-yield barley varieties and digital farming tools. Sustainability measures at the plant will include biofuel-based heat energy, advanced water management systems and a zero liquid discharge process.
Soufflet Malt has been active in India since 2014 and currently operates a smaller malt house in Alwar, Rajasthan, with a production capacity of approximately 16,500 to 18,000 tonnes per year, supplying locally grown and malted barley to domestic brewers and distillers. The new facility significantly expands its footprint in the country and underlines India’s growing strategic importance in the global brewing value chain.
