1. Trading offer & request

At this moment there is one OFFER for 2000 tons of malt on the trading portal www.e-malt.com

• Offer for 1-2000 mtons of malt, 2RS Scarlet/Astoria, crop 2003, Bulk, delivery 1/11/2003 - 30/6/2004, at EUR 263.00/mton, FOB Antwerp. (to see and make a bid to the malt offer, please click here to view code MF0107P1435)
  
  

 Top Industry News 

More news is available on site www.e-malt.com  

• India’s brewing conglomerate, United Breweries, has announced a consolidated net loss of Rup90.5m for the full 2002-2003 fiscal year against Rup247.6m in the previous fiscal year ...more info



• The Denmark’s beer and soft drinks maker, Harboes Bryggeri, has posted a net profit for the year to the end of April 2003 of DKr32.9m, down from DKr72.5m in 2001/2002 ...more info



• The Belgian brewing conglomerate Interbrew, The World's Local Brewer©, announced on July 2 that “it will realise transition into an organizational structure that brings its strategy of solid organic business growth ...more info



• The Czech brewer, Plzensky Prazdroj, the SABMiller subsidiary, has been fined Kc2.3m (US$84,190) by the Czech anti-monopoly office UOHS for illegal contracts on minimal annual beer purchases with restaurants ...more info



• The Germany's beer maker Holsten has registered a 11.4% fall in beer sales in the first five months of this year, versus the same period last year, said the company in a statement ...more info



• Brazil's leading beverage company, Companhia de Bebidas das Americas (AmBev), the world's fifth-largest brewer, announced on July 1 that its CEO Magim Rodriguez would be joining the board of directors next year as vice chairman ...more info




2. Brewery News

Belgian brewing giant Interbrew S.A., and Diageo PLC jointly announced on July 1 the closing of the transfer to Interbrew of all import and distribution rights for Bass Alein the United States. Bass Ale is a high-margin brand and will occupy a unique role in Interbrew's portfolio, said Belgian brewer in a statement. Bass Ale accounts for more than 25% of all super-premium imported beers in the US. In the US market, the brand gives Interbrew operational control of 7 out of the top 12 best-selling imported beers. Moreover, Bass Ale's volume will significantly strengthen Interbrew's position in the American on-trade market, said Interbrew. "This is a tremendous opportunity for Interbrew," said John F. Brock, Interbrew's CEO. "Both Interbrew and Diageo have worked closely to make this transfer possible in a very short period of time. We are very enthusiastic about Bass® Ale and believe it will be an outstanding addition to the Interbrew USA portfolio...more info

Brazilian beer maker Brahma will maintain strong its sales level in Venezuela in 2003, in spite of the country's economic and political collapse, Executive Director Luiz Franciss said. Despite the general strike in Venezuela in January, when sales were "zero," Brahma recovered strongly in February and March and its first-quarter performance was comparable to that of 2002, said Luiz Franciss. Strong beer sales expected in 2003 might be attributed to the fact that consumers affected by the economic crisis reject more expensive wines and spirits, according to Brahma. Franciss expects the strongest growth in the light segment of the market. According to analysts the segment of light beer might increase by 50% in Venezuela in 2003 against 2002 year, when sales of light beer accounted for 40% of total beer sales...more info

The SARS outbreak has hit growth in the Chinese beer market and could even destroy the forecast rise in beer consumption in the country for this year, according to the brewing group, SABMiller. The impact of SARS had varied from region to region but may have reduced beer sales in Beijing and other cities by as much as 20%, said SABMiller's managing director for Africa and Asia, Andre Parker. However, SABMiller's Chinese operations would benefit from the purchase of a stake in Harbin Brewery, Andre Parker said. “The Harbin deal would add "significant" synergies in the northeast of the country.” "The SARS impact could bring growth down to zero (for the year) - but that is real thumb-suck territory," Parker said, adding that sales had been hit as consumers who normally ate out at restaurants chose to stay at home.

3. Malt News

USA: The International Malting Co. plant is expected to hire about 35 employees and process between 12 million and 16 million bushels (0.25-million-metric tons)of malt barley a year. “We believe we’ll benefit every farmer in the state that wants to grow barley,” said IMC’s Philip Van Rensburg. Ralph Peck, director of the Montana Department of Agriculture, said plant officials anticipate needing about half of Montana’s malt barley production. Peck said the plant may also bring spinoff businesses that make products, such as animal feed, from malting byproducts. “We’re so excited for the prospects to growers in this area,” Gov. Judy Martz said. She said Montana’s malt barley industry is a $60 million annual business with the potential to double. Leveling and excavation of the plant site has started and officials are hoping to have foundations poured before the fall’s first snowfall. The company already has plants in Milwaukee; Chicago; Winona, Minn.; and Winnipeg, Manitoba...more info

Russia reportedly bought 105,000 tons of EU malt at prices ranging from EUR 275,- to 280,- basis CIF St. Petersburg, and 50-60,000 tons of Czech malt at around EUR 290,- DDU Central and South Russian destinations, to be delivered by rail.

4. Barley News

Barley in Canada: Moisture conditions are much improved over last year, and a crop of 13.4 million tons is forecast, compared to 7.3 million last year. The CWB has quoted new crop barley: 6row at Can $ 215,-, 2row at 243,- in store Vancouver, equal US $ 175,- resp. 193,- track Minneapolis. It is also reported that the CWB would sell 2row malting barley at US $ 175,- basis FOB Vancouver. The USA expect imports of 700,000 tons of Canadian barley, 350,000 tons are already on the books.

Australian company based in Adelaide, ABB Grain Ltd., the world's biggest malting barley exporter, said prices for the grain might fall 4.3 % more than it forecasted in March because bigger European and Canadian crops would add to growing world supplies. The European Union pegged its barley crop at 50.5 million tonnes, a 5.2 % increase from a year ago, ABB Grain said in a newsletter to farmers. Canada’s production is expected to more than double to 13 million tonnes this year. Lower barley prices would cut the cost of malt, used by Foster's Group, Tsingtao Brewery and other brewers, to make beer. Australian prices last year rose to a record after the nation's worst drought in 100 years slashed supplies. ABB Grain supplies buyers in 30 countries, including Tsingtao...more info