In Germany Schill and Thywissen joined forces. GlobalMalt (Schill, Thywissen, Tivoli) is now the No.1 maltster of the country, with a total capacity of 310 000 tonnenes. In Denmark Fuglsang of Haderslev acquired the maltings of Dragsbaek, enlarging their total capacity to 157 000 tonnenes. From Sweden it is reported that Carlsberg will shut its 40 000 tonnenes malting plant at Stockholm.

The well-known and well-respected Weissheimer company of Andernach, Germany, has applied for insolvency, first for their two factories in Hungary, then for their German group(not including Sachsen-Malz of Heidenau and the Polish affiliate Baltic Malt at Gdansk). The preliminary procedures must be concluded within three months. Management and insolvency administrator try to find a way out of the crisis

From July 2005 till end March 2006 EU malt exporters booked 6 Mill. tonnes of export certificates, 88 000 tonnes less than a year ago. Analysts believe that if export shipments continued at a similar pace during the final three months of the crop year, total exports would arrive at 2.10 to 2.15 Mill. tonnes, about 100 000 tonnes below the figure of 2004/05. Exports estimates early in the season had been as low as 1. 8 Mill. tonnes.

U.S. barley stocks in all positions on March 1, 2006 amounted to 167 million bushels, a drop of 13% from March 1, 2005, according to the USDA.

On-farm stocks are estimated at 68.4 million bushels, 14% below a year ago. Off-farm stocks, at 98.2 million bushels, are 12% below March 2005.The December 2005 - February 2006 indicated disappearance amounted 41.4 million bushels, 25% below the same period a year earlier.

Area planted with barley crops is forecasted to increase in 2006, Yuri Melnik, Vice-Prime Minister informed on April, 3, according to APK-Inform Information Agency.

Area under barley crops can increase by 470.000 ha (total area was 4.5 mln ha last year).

Increase of wheat area is estimated at the level of 145.000 ha (total area - 6.19 mln ha in 2005), millet - 100.000 ha (141.000 ha last year).

Agrarians will be highly interested in sugar beet, soy beans and rape, Melnik supposed.

Total area under crops is estimated at 25.86 mln ha in 2006. Area planted with grains and leguminous plants (including maize) is forecasted to total 9.09 mln ha; mixed feeds - 4.173 mln ha, vegetables, potatoes and, melons and gourds - 2.025 mln ha. By the end of the previous week area planted with spring grains and green feeds had been 254.000 ha or 4 % from the forecast (5.89 mln ha).