October was a month of fairly large activities, analysts said. Venezuela purchased about 125,000 tons of EU malt. It also purchased 5-10,000 tons of Argentinian malt. The SAB breweries of El Salvador and Honduras took 20,000 tons, half each from Sweden and Chile. Sweden also sold to Costa Rica and
the Caribbean. Vietnam is reported for 20,000 tons as well, half from France and Australia. Australia sold 40.000 tons to Korea, the reported price was US $ 305 FOB in bulk container. APB booked part of their annual Asian needs, so far mainly from Europe. Japan bought undisclosed quantities from their traditional origins of supply. There was also good activity inside Mercosur with sales of at least 20,000 tons from Argentina to Brazil and major activity inside Brazil.

07 November, 2003