Germany reports dry soils in the eastern “laender” as well as in parts of Bavaria. It looks good in the Western half and in Thuringia. Spain enjoyed a good growing season and is harvesting a crop of around 9-10 million tons of barley, however, no more malting barley than needed for its own market. Conditions look very good so far all over northern Europe, from Ireland through the U.K. to Scandinavia. Markets of malting barley have nevertheless reacted to the French situation, nominal quotes are up, but in reality there are no hardly any sellers or buyers. The old crop surplus is now estimated to be about 100,000 tons in Denmark, which should find a home in view of the nervousness concerning new crop.

18 July, 2003