Australia: Private barley crop estimates lowered to 8.5-9 mln tonnes
According to ABARES latest estimate, the barley crop in Australia (incl. Tasmania) may reach 9.196 mln tonnes, but private crop estimates have been lowered to 8.5 9.0 mln tonnes, H. M. Gauger GmbH said in their July report.
Western Australia received beneficial rainfalls except for the very south (Esperance). South Australia and Victoria are still dry, but would produce average crops with the help of (hoped for) spring rains. The damaging drought in northern New South Wales continues; feed lots buy unusually large quantities of feed grains from the south.
Export business and shipments of old crop barley are virtually finished. Uncertain world barley crop prospects and U.S./China problems block market activities, local sources report.