Brewer's Spent Grain Global Market Report 2026

Brewer's spent grain (BSG) is the fibrous, nutrient-dense byproduct left after extracting sugars from malted grains during the brewing process. It is commonly used as a high-fiber animal feed and is also added to human food products to increase fiber content and utilize its nutritional advantages.

The primary types of brewer's spent grain include wheat, barley, rye, oats, and others. Wheat brewer's spent grain, a byproduct of brewing, is valued for its high fiber and protein content, making it suitable for animal feed and various other uses. It finds applications in animal feed, food products, biofuel, and more, and is utilized by breweries, food manufacturers, bioenergy companies, and other entities.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report's Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

Tariffs are impacting the brewer's spent grain market by increasing costs of imported drying equipment, processing machinery, packaging materials, and logistics services. Food manufacturers and feed producers in North America and Europe are most affected due to dependence on imported processing infrastructure, while Asia-Pacific faces export-related pricing pressures. These tariffs are increasing operational costs and limiting scalability for small producers. However, they are also driving localized processing, regional sourcing partnerships, and stronger integration between breweries and nearby food manufacturers.

The brewer's spent grain market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides brewer's spent grain market statistics, including brewer's spent grain industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a brewer's spent grain market share, detailed brewer's spent grain market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the brewer's spent grain industry. This brewer's spent grain market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The brewer's spent grain market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $1.84 billion in 2025 to $2.03 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.2%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to expansion of global brewing activities, increasing availability of spent grain byproducts, growing use of bsg in animal feed, development of grain drying technologies, rising interest in food waste reduction.

The brewer's spent grain market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $2.95 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.8%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing demand for sustainable food ingredients, rising adoption of upcycled food products, expansion of plant-based nutrition, growing investments in food circularity solutions, increasing innovation in fiber-rich food formulations. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing utilization of bsg in human food products, rising adoption of bsg-based functional ingredients, growing integration into circular brewing models, expansion of high-fiber nutrition applications, enhanced focus on shelf-stable bsg processing.

The rising consumption of beer is expected to drive the growth of the brewer's spent grain market in the coming years. Beer is an alcoholic beverage produced through the fermentation of sugars derived primarily from grains such as barley, wheat, or corn. Beer consumption is increasing due to factors including cultural and social occasions, economic development, effective marketing and promotion, and evolving consumer drinking preferences. Increased beer production results in higher volumes of brewer's spent grain (BSG), a byproduct generated during the brewing process. This byproduct can be reused in applications such as animal feed, biofuels, and food ingredients, helping to reduce waste while creating additional value for the brewing industry. For example, in December 2024, according to Kirin Holdings Company, a Japan-based beverage company, global beer consumption in 2023 rose by around 200,000 kiloliters, or 0.1%, compared to the previous year, reaching approximately 187.9 million kiloliters, with China maintaining its position as the world's largest beer-consuming country for the 21st consecutive year. Therefore, increasing beer consumption is supporting the growth of the brewer's spent grain market.

Companies involved in the brewer's spent grain market are increasingly implementing innovative sustainability initiatives aimed at reducing waste, improving resource efficiency, and developing value-added products. Sustainability initiatives focus on minimizing environmental impact by creatively reusing or recycling brewing byproducts, thereby supporting sustainable operations and contributing to a circular economy. For instance, in May 2024, Heineken France, a France-based brewing company, introduced Project Circle to enhance circularity within its brewery operations and reduce carbon emissions. The initiative separates brewer's spent grain into protein and fiber components, with proteins refined for potential food applications and fibers used to generate renewable energy. The pilot phase of the project targets a 50% reduction in scope 1 thermal energy emissions and aligns with Heineken's goals of achieving net-zero scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 and net-zero emissions across its entire value chain by 2040. By establishing a closed-loop system, Project Circle advances circular economy practices and supports the decarbonization of brewing operations.

In September 2024, Upgrain AG, a Switzerland-based food technology company, partnered with Brauerei Locher to establish Europe's largest spent grain upcycling facility in Appenzell, Switzerland. Through this collaboration, the companies aim to convert brewer's spent grain into high-value, food-grade protein, fiber, and flour-alternative ingredients, supporting waste reduction, circular resource utilization, and a more sustainable supply of food ingredients. Brauerei Locher AG is a Switzerland-based brewery specializing in beer production and provides the spent grain feedstock used in Upgrain's upcycling process.

Major companies operating in the brewer's spent grain market are Heineken N.V., Carlsberg A/S, Boston Beer Company, Founders Brewing Co., Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., New Belgium Brewing Company, Bells Brewery, Yuengling & Son, Inc., Firestone Walker Brewing Company, Great Lakes Brewing Company, Lagunitas Brewing Company LLC, Boulevard Brewing Company, Allagash Brewing Company, Rogue Farms, Odell Brewing Company, Abita Brewing Company, Alaskan Brewing LLC, Summit Brewing Company, Leiber GmbH, Captain Lawrence Brewing Company, Eel River Brewing Company, Left Hand Brewing Company, Great Basin Brewing Company, Mikkeller

Europe was the largest region in the brewer's spent grain market in 2025. The regions covered in the brewer's spent grain market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa.

The countries covered in the brewer's spent grain market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Italy, Spain, Canada

The brewer's spent grain market consists of sales of compost, biogas, bioplastics, biochar. Values in this market are 'factory gate' values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

Brewer's Spent Grain Market Global Report 2026 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.

This report focuses brewer's spent grain market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the trends which will be shaping the market over the next ten years and beyond.

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Where is the largest and fastest growing market for brewer's spent grain ? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward, including technological disruption, regulatory shifts, and changing consumer preferences? The brewer's spent grain market global report from the Business Research Company answers all these questions and many more.

The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, total addressable market (TAM), market attractiveness score (MAS), competitive landscape, market shares, company scoring matrix, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography.

• The market characteristics section of the report defines and explains the market. This section also examines key products and services offered in the market, evaluates brand-level differentiation, compares product features, and highlights major innovation and product development trends.
• The supply chain analysis section provides an overview of the entire value chain, including key raw materials, resources, and supplier analysis. It also provides a list competitor at each level of the supply chain.
• The updated trends and strategies section analyses the shape of the market as it evolves and highlights emerging technology trends such as digital transformation, automation, sustainability initiatives, and AI-driven innovation. It suggests how companies can leverage these advancements to strengthen their market position and achieve competitive differentiation.
• The regulatory and investment landscape section provides an overview of the key regulatory frameworks, regularity bodies, associations, and government policies influencing the market. It also examines major investment flows, incentives, and funding trends shaping industry growth and innovation.
• The market size section gives the market size ($b) covering both the historic growth of the market, and forecasting its development.
• The forecasts are made after considering the major factors currently impacting the market. These include the technological advancements such as AI and automation, Russia-Ukraine war, trade tariffs (government-imposed import/export duties), elevated inflation and interest rates.
• The total addressable market (TAM) analysis section defines and estimates the market potential compares it with the current market size, and provides strategic insights and growth opportunities based on this evaluation.
• The market attractiveness scoring section evaluates the market based on a quantitative scoring framework that considers growth potential, competitive dynamics, strategic fit, and risk profile. It also provides interpretive insights and strategic implications for decision-makers.
• Market segmentations break down the market into sub markets.
• The regional and country breakdowns section gives an analysis of the market in each geography and the size of the market by geography and compares their historic and forecast growth.
• Expanded geographical coverage includes Taiwan and Southeast Asia, reflecting recent supply chain realignments and manufacturing shifts in the region. This section analyzes how these markets are becoming increasingly important hubs in the global value chain.
• The competitive landscape chapter gives a description of the competitive nature of the market, market shares, and a description of the leading companies. Key financial deals which have shaped the market in recent years are identified.
• The company scoring matrix section evaluates and ranks leading companies based on a multi-parameter framework that includes market share or revenues, product innovation, and brand recognition.

Scope

• Markets Covered:1) By Type: Wheat; Barley; Rye; Oats; Other Types
• 2) By Application: Animal Feed; Food Products; Biofuel; Other Applications
• 3) By End-User: Breweries; Food Manufacturers; Bioenergy Companies; Other End-Users
• Subsegments:
• 1) By Wheat: Soft Red Wheat Spent Grain; Hard Red Wheat Spent Grain
• 2) By Barley: Pale Malt Barley Spent Grain; Roasted Barley Spent Grain
• 3) By Rye: Rye Malt Spent Grain; Dark Rye Spent Grain
• 4) By Oats: Oat Malt Spent Grain; Hulless Oat Spent Grain
• 5) By Other Types: Corn Spent Grain; Sorghum Spent Grain; Mixed Grain Spent Grain
• Companies Mentioned: Heineken N.V.; Carlsberg A/S; Boston Beer Company; Founders Brewing Co.; Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.; New Belgium Brewing Company; Bells Brewery; Yuengling & Son, Inc.; Firestone Walker Brewing Company; Great Lakes Brewing Company; Lagunitas Brewing Company LLC; Boulevard Brewing Company; Allagash Brewing Company; Rogue Farms; Odell Brewing Company; Abita Brewing Company; Alaskan Brewing LLC; Summit Brewing Company; Leiber GmbH; Captain Lawrence Brewing Company; Eel River Brewing Company; Left Hand Brewing Company; Great Basin Brewing Company; Mikkeller
• Countries: Australia; Brazil; China; France; Germany; India; Indonesia; Japan; Taiwan; Russia; South Korea; UK; USA; Italy; Spain; Canada
• Regions: Asia-Pacific; South East Asia; Western Europe; Eastern Europe; North America; South America; Middle East; Africa
• Time Series: Five years historic and ten years forecast.
• Data: Ratios of market size and growth to related markets, GDP proportions, expenditure per capita,
• Data Segmentations: country and regional historic and forecast data, market share of competitors, market segments.
• Sourcing and Referencing: Data and analysis throughout the report is sourced using end notes.
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