USA: Final barley crop estimate of 6.006 million tonnes is hardly changed from earlier figure. The U.S. sold 472,000 tonnes barley for export to-date including 258,000 tonnes to Japan, but no more than 4,000 tonnes to Mexico. U.S. maltsters estimate that they will import 350,000 tonnes from Canada. New crop acreage is expected lower than last year’s 2.145 million ha.

11 February, 2004