The International Grains Council and the Food Aid Committee held their regular sessions in London on 8 - 9 December 2003. The Secretariat, as part of its ongoing survey of barley trade, reported on its preliminary analysis of developments in key malting barley markets. It noted that world beer production (the chief end-use of malting barley) had increased by 19% in the last ten years, boosted by quickly rising per capita consumption in lower and middle income countries, many of which had the potential for further growth. Imports of malting barley and malt by those countries were rising, with China alone now accounting for over 2 million tonnes of malting barley imports annually. On the other hand, beer markets in most developed countries had reached maturity, and falling demand had seen the brewing sectors contract in some countries, cutting domestic barley malt requirements. However, some countries, including Australia and Canada, had expanded their malt exports.

26 December, 2003