Australia: AWB opens new malting barley segregations in Western Australia

AWB have opened up new malting barley segregations in Western Australia and revised pool returns, Weekly Times Now reported on November, 30.

AWB's Jon White said: "AWB today opened Buloke segregation in WA due to farmer and customer demand and as well as a WA malt 2 segregation due to the current quality profile of the WA barley crop to provide farmers with a greater selection of barley marketing alternatives."

"Malt barley estimates have been reduced due to a greater proportion of the barley achieving malt specification and overall limited selling opportunities," Mr White said.

"The reduction in feed barley estimates is less and this is more a reflection of the broader sell off in commodity markets due the current global financial uncertainty.

"AWB's current 2011/12 barley pool estimated pool returns are currently A$7 - A$10 above the current cash prices.

"At present we are seeing strong selling interest from Australian farmers however the barley market currently lacks volume buyers.

"The 2011/12 barley pool provides an ideal marketing opportunity for Australian farmers as it takes a longer term view of the market and we anticipate customer demand to increase in the New Year which should provide support to our estimated pool returns," Mr White said.

30 November, 2011