Malt business in November was negligible, market experts said. Taiwan purchased 24,000 tonnes two-row malt from a French/Belgian company at EUR 260,- CFR. Brazil is in the market for 150-200,000 tonnes of malt. It is reported that they have concluded 30.000 tons from Argentina, 15,000 tonnes from Uruguay, 20,000 tonnes from Brazil and min. 30,000 tonnes from the EU. South Africa purchased about 5,000 tons of Heineken A-grade at prices around EUR 225,-/230,- FOB in bulk. The mood at the Nuremberg Brau Fair was, of course, affected by the crisis in the malt industry, which was faced by low malting margins all year and by equally poor prospects for 2005.

05 December, 2004