EU Malting barley: Estimates of the EU export surplus range from 1.0 to 1.7 million tonnes. The high number is unlikely. Stratйgie Grains estimates that 1.34 million tonnes of winter barley will be selectable for malting. French industries expect no more than 700,000 tonnes. Also in the U.K. published figures of a surplus of 600,000 tonnes are doubted, grain merchants anticipate exports of only 300,000 tonnes. There are large quantities of French Esterel barley in store with proteins ranging from 11.5 to 13 %. Local industries will not accept them. There may be an export market for these qualities, but there is also an enormous demand from the feed side. The price comparison shows the narrow price gap between feed and malting barley (maize even obtains a good premium above malting barley).
It is generally assumed that much lower quality malting barley will quickly disappear in the feed sector. And the EU feed barley market is anticipated to remain firm.
09 September, 2003
