Australia: Barley crop situation continues to improve

Barley crop situation continues to improve as further rains arrived across key areas in Australia, and most importantly in South Australia and western Victoria where moisture was desperately needed, RMI Analytics said in their latest report.

Temperatures are generally normal across key barley regions which in conjunction with the moisture is providing near perfect barley growing conditions (note: one cold weather spot in Western Australia, which reminds of potential frost risk).

With continued good crop development in Western Australia, eastern Victoria, and New South Wales, and a reduced level of concern in Western Australia and west of Victoria, the analysts’ Australia barley crop forecast remains at 12.0 mln tonnes but upside exists.

China’s barley imports were ~1.6 mln tonnes in May; Australia led with 500 thousand tonnes. Since Oct.1, 2023, Chinese imports are nearly 12 mln tonnes, a doubling of both the previous year, and the longer-term average of 5.5 mln tonnes. Australian exports start to be capped at 6-7 mln tonnes with a crop of 12 mln.

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