Grain handler AusBulk says moves to deregulate South Australia's barley export market will have little impact on its malted barley operations, ABC West Coast SA reported. The State Government has released a review of export arrangements for barley, which recommends granting licences to other companies, if they can demonstrate they can do a better job than the Australian Barley Board (ABB).

Ausbulk's executive manager of corporate relations, David Thomas, says the company's main concern is whether its surplus barley stocks can be sold back to the ABB. He says even if the review's recommendations become legislation, the malted barley industry will not be affected. "Our expansion plans have been there for quite a while, and the fact that we've invested in the malt industry is completely unrelated to the Barley Marketing Act because there are no impediments to export of malted barley," he said. "From our perspective, we see that there's better value from our company being involved in that type of activity than being involved in export of the raw cereal."

07 July, 2003