E-Malt.com News article: 4105

World Barley Markets: Barley markets were supported by steady demand and firm Black Sea prices in the past two months, with Australia’s smaller than expected harvest lifting local malting prices, The International Grain Council (IGC) revealed in its last Grain Market Report on January 27.

A smaller than anticipated harvest in Australia has contributed to a cut in the global crop figure, but world barley production will nevertheless show a rise of 10 million tonnes, to 150 million tonnes. Consumption, however, will decline in 2004/05, mainly because of a reduction in the EU. Somewhat increased feed barley imports by countries in N.E Asia and North Africa and an upturn in malting buying in China should lift world trade in barley grain by 0.7 million tonnes, to 15.8 million tonnes. No significant change is expected in global trade in barley malt in 2004/05 (not included in the global trade total), with a rise in Brazil, to be matched by a further cut in Russia’s needs. World stocks are expected to climb with those in the EU set to nearly double, to 8.3 million tonnes.

According to IGC on January 7 Tunisia bought 0.1 million tonnes of feed barley. On January 7 EU: Licenses 154,637 tonnes feed barley imports in first week of 2005 TRQ. (source: IGC)


30 January, 2005