Revised forecast of trade in barley malt boost the 2003/04 total by 0.2 million tonnes, to nearly 5.8 million (grain equivalent), up from last year’s 5.6 million, according to estimates of The International Grain Council (ICG). This is mainly because of recent larger than expected shipments to Venezuela, which set a record. This, and higher imports by several other countries, more than offset the declines in shipments to the world’s biggest malt buyers, Brazil, Russia and Japan, ICG revealed on July 29. While there may be some increase in demand in Brazil, global trade in malt is expected to fall back again slightly in 2004/05.

31 July, 2004