World: Barley trade, production forecasts increased in USDAs December report
The forecast for worlds barley trade in 2017/18 is slightly up in USDAs December report at 25.84 mln tonnes versus 25.71 mln tonnes expected last month.
Barley export forecasts are up for Ukraine (4.7 mln tonnes vs. 4.6 forecast in November) and Moldova (125 thousand tonnes vs. 75 thousand last month).
Barley import forecast is up for the EU: 500 thousand tonnes this month versus 350 thousand in the November report.
World barley production forecast is 141.863 mln tonnes this month versus 141.66 mln in November owing to an increase in forecast production in Canada (to 7.9 mln tonnes from 7.25 mln last month). The EU is forecast to harvest 58.68 mln tonnes of barley in 2017/18 as compared to 58.963 mln forecast last month. World barley production in 2016/17 is estimated at 147.178 mln tonnes.
World barley consumption is seen at 147.414 mln tonnes this month (147.139 mln in November, 149.217 in 2016/17) and ending stocks at 18.834 mln tonnes (18.849 and 24.385 mln, respectively).