Carlsberg Bulgaria, reported sales growth of 26.5% in January-September 2007, Journey.bg informed, citing officials from the Bulgarian office of the company, October 9.

Despite that the result represents a slight retreat from the 30% growth level reached last year, the company has narrowed its lag behind the first- and second-ranked players on the market, Heineken and InBev.

Carlsberg is now in control of 25% of the market, where Heineken holds 30% and InBev holds 26%.

The sales pick-up is largely attributable to soaring sales of Shumensko pivo (24% growth).

The company will continue with investments into technological upgrades. In the next 3 years it plans to invest 20 million BGN (10 million EUR) in brewery based in Shumen.

Malt markets are inactive. Maltsters in the EU, but also in the other parts of the world, are almost sold out for 2008, market analysts commented on October 1st. They said: “Some capacities are still open, but lack the barley cover.

Very few maltsters still reserve a quantity for regular customers, who have not covered their 2008 demand yet. Substantial malting contracts have been concluded by the brewing industry for 2009 and 2010, with open barley prices and special clauses for the cost of energy and transport. It is reliably reported that brewers in Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia and Brazil are still short large quantities for 2008.”

All over Western Europe the cost price of malt ex works is EUR 550,- to 570,-, based on barley price levels of around EUR 350,-, average price for crop 2007, delivered malthouses. It is about equal to EUR 600,- FOB in bulk in containerm, market analysts commented on October 1st.

North America reports prices between US$ 700,- and 800,-, delivered breweries or FOB seaports. Analysts said: “We cannot foresee a decline of prices before next spring or summer (at the earliest) and cannot exclude even firmer markets for the months to come.

Malting barley contract prices concluded before harvest are way too low today. It leads to great problems, when farmers will not or cannot deliver contractual quantities and/or qualities. Therefore many contracts have to be adjusted; cooperatives and trade are in a difficult position.

The situation is desperate in Czech, Slovakia and Hungary, where pre-harvest prices were too low anyway, and where virtually all contracts are now being declared void by sellers. Maltsters hope that barley withheld by farmers will come on the market later in the season to improve supplies. But it is also certain that imports from overseas and the use of second grade or feed qualities will be necessary to carry the industry through the crop year.

The U.S. harvested 4,866 Mill. tons of barley, almost one Million tons more than last year. The larger crop was welcome and seemed to assure sufficient supplies for maltsters and brewers, however, the world market created havoc in the U.S. barley sector, prices shot up, driven by an insatiable demand of barley exporters. Present markets are US$ 330,- for feed barley, delivered Portland, US$ 320,- for six-row and 390,- for two-row malting barley track Minneapolis. U.S. export sales of barley since June have been 657.000 tons.