E-Malt.com News article: 3518

World barley markets were a little firmer in September, mainly because of some tightening of Black Sea supplies, according to International Grains Council Report posted by the end of September. Larger crops in Europe and the CIS are expected to lift world barley production in 2004 by about 9 million tonnes, to 149 million tonnes. The EU estimate is raised by 1 million tonnes from last month due to higher than expected yields in France and Germany, but forecasts for Australia and Canada have been cut, leaving the global estimate virtually unchanged. In contrast to maize, the Council’s forecast of world consumption of barley has been trimmed by 1m. tons, to 143m., a figure lower than last year because of reduced feed use in the EU, which had been unusually large in 2003/04 due to reduced wheat and maize supplies. In Ukraine, where barley is the biggest single feed grain, consumption has been affected by the slow recovery in the livestock sector, especially cattle and pigs, after last year’s sharp fall in feed supplies, and forecast use of this grain has been lowered accordingly. Trade prospects for barley have not changed significantly since last month, with only a modest upturn expected, mainly in the malting sector, as shipments to China recover. Because of uncompetitive prices compared with Black Sea and other offers, EU feed barley exports are forecast to be very small in 2004/05. Following a significant increase in the forecast for the EU, world barley stocks are placed 1m. tons higher than before and are expected to rebound to a six-year high of over 28 million tonnes.

According to International Grains Council (IGC) on August 26 Tunisia bought 0.1 million tonnes of Black Sea feed barley. On September 22 Jordan bought 0.1 million tonnes of feed barley.


24 October, 2004