Canada: Barley exports are expected to increase by more than 30% in 2005-2006

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) forecasts that for 2005-2006 total barley supply is projected to increase by 3%, due to higher carry-in stocks resulting from the large production of low-quality barley in 2004-05, according to AAFC’s report published on May 31.

Exports are expected to increase by more than 30% in 2005-2006 as the supply of malting quality barley increases.

Carry-out stocks are expected to remain high historically and the off- Board feed barley price is forecast to be similar to 2004-05.

Malting barley prices will be pressured by higher world production, with the CWB PRO for Special Select 2-row malting barley down by C$6/t from 2004-05 at C$174/t.

02 June, 2005