China's beer output, which had shown a good growth trend in the first three months of the year, has since suffered bad losses from the SARS epidemic. Maltsters and barley importers sit on unsold or undelivered stocks. Further barley purchases are unlikely in the near future. Crop prospects of Chinese barley this year are unfavourable after drought in the North of the country und untimely rains in the Shanghai basin at harvest time.

27 June, 2003