Belarus is not planning to import malting barley and unroasted malt this year, Belarus authorities announced on September 22. The tender of importing malt and barley was stopped according the regulations issued by the Belarus Council of Ministers. According to experts, this year Belarus prepared enough malting barley, which exceed twice the needs of national breweries. They also said that the quality suits the beer makers.

This year up to 20 September there were purchased 154 thousand tonnes of barley (102.7 % of plan) that is 8 times more than in 2003. 13% of this barley is first class quality and about 87% second class. Approx. 91 thousand tonnes of barley was purchased by OAO Belsolod to produce malt. Belsolod is selling about 20 thousand of its malt to national breweries, which don’t have their own malting plants, the rest is exported, ProAgro mentioned in a statement.

25 September, 2004