EU malt export licence bookings were 629,000 tonnes from July 1 to September 28, 2004, of which 545,000 tonnes in the old and 84,000 tonnes in the new member states, industry experts has recently revealed. At the same pace bookings in the old EU would reach 2.2 million tonnes for the year, and 2.5 million tonnes in the total EU.

In the first half of the year EU malt exports were better than expected to Africa, Russia, Thailand and particularly Venezuela. For October Brazil may become a better customer again, as the country forecasts a 5% better beer output, and Mercosur maltsters appear extremely well sold.

20 October, 2004