South Africa registered 155,000 tons of domestic malting barley deliveries in 2002 versus only 75,000 tons in 2001. It is expected that receivals could even be larger from crop 2003. Planting is going on now. There is no demand for import barley time being.

Barley planting has commenced in large parts of Australia. The soil moisture situation has improved. The best situation is reported from Western Australia, followed by South Australia, while Victoria and New South Wales need more precipitation for planting and good vegetation of the crop. Because of the moisture deficit in the East the AWF estimate of coming crop is "only" 6,2 Mill. tons. Two years ago the crop was 8,4 Mill., last year 3,5 Mill. tons.

25 June, 2003