• Nigerian Breweries begins pilot barley cultivation to cut imports
• Ethiopia leads Africa barley output; Morocco, Algeria major producers
• Nigeria aims scale barley production by 2030 for brewing

Nigerian Breweries Plc recently announced it has begun cultivating barley in Nigeria as part of a pilot program. The brewer aims to scale up production by 2030, marking a significant milestone for the West African country, which had not previously grown the grain. The initiative is designed to gradually reduce the local brewing industry's dependence on imported malting barley. Barley cultivation across Africa remains limited compared to other grains, and its uses extend well beyond the beer sector. The FAO's Food Outlook report, published in November 2025, forms the basis of this ranking of the five leading barley producers on the continent.

Ethiopia
 Ethiopia harvested an average of 2.2 million metric tons of barley per year between 2021 and 2023, according to FAO data, making it Africa's leading producer. It is also the only country in this ranking that appears to be self-sufficient, based on trade flows. Barley is a staple crop in the country's agricultural landscape, consumed as porridge, injera (a flatbread), or traditional beverages such as tella. It is also used as animal feed and is increasingly used for malt production in the brewing industry.

Historically concentrated in the southeastern highlands, cultivation has progressively expanded to the central, northwestern and northern highlands in recent years, supported by investments from multinational brewing and malting companies that have improved access to certified seeds, extension services and stable markets.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, in its latest report on the Ethiopian grain market, notes that the malting and brewing industry accounts for roughly 45% of total barley demand. The commercial food and beverage sector accounts for 23%, households for 27% and seed requirements for 5%. The USDA also estimates that the crop occupies nearly 1 million hectares of farmland in the country.

Morocco
 Morocco produced an average of 1.6 million metric tons of barley per year between 2021 and 2023, making it the highest-ranked North African country in this ranking, according to FAO data. Over that period, domestic production covered approximately 80% of local demand, which stood at 2 million metric tons. The gap is covered by imports.

Barley is Morocco's second most widely grown cereal after wheat. It is primarily used as fodder for livestock, including sheep, cattle and goats, and is sometimes consumed by humans as a wheat substitute. The USDA, in its latest report on the Moroccan grain market, estimates that barley cultivation covers nearly 1 million hectares of farmland.

Algeria
 Algeria produced an average of 800,000 metric tons of barley per year between 2021 and 2023, making it Africa's third-largest producer, according to FAO data. Over that period, domestic production covered only 42% of local demand, which was estimated at nearly 1.9 million metric tons per year. As a result, Algeria imported more than half of its needs.

As in Morocco, barley is Algeria's second most cultivated cereal after wheat. It is primarily used for animal feed, with a small portion going toward the production of bread and couscous for human consumption. Demand depends on grazing conditions: when those conditions deteriorate, barley consumption rises. The USDA, in its latest report on the Algerian grain market, estimates that the country also devotes nearly 1 million hectares of farmland to the crop.

Tunisia
 Tunisia produced an average of 347,000 metric tons of barley per year between 2021 and 2023, according to FAO data. It is also the country in this ranking most dependent on imports to meet domestic needs. Over that period, local production covered only 25% of consumption, which was estimated at nearly 1.4 million metric tons.

As in Morocco and Algeria, barley in Tunisia is primarily used as fodder for livestock in feedlots. The USDA, in its latest report on the Tunisian grain market, estimates that the crop covers nearly 300,000 hectares.

South Africa
 South Africa is the second sub-Saharan African country to appear in this ranking, having produced an average of 337,600 metric tons of barley per year between 2021 and 2023, according to FAO data. Barley is a winter crop grown mainly in specific areas of the Northern Cape, Western Cape and North West provinces.

According to the Crop Estimates Committee, cultivation covers nearly 100,000 hectares. While barley is primarily used for malt production for the brewing industry, it is also used as fodder for livestock, particularly cattle.

Stéphanas Assocle