Malt business for the year 2004 has been reported to Romania, Russia and Ukraine. Quantities were quite substantial. Russia's beer output increased by 19,0 % during January/April of this year, the Ukrainian beer sales by 20,4 % during the same period. Russia reports that malting capacities are far from being fully used, as a consequence of last year's disastrous barley quality. More import demand is expected from both countries. Austria and the Southeastern part of the expanded EU, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary is sold out or uncompetitive, respectively, therefore malt is sold increasingly through Baltic ports again, even to Southern Russia and the Ukraine.

07 July, 2004