World: Virtually all maltsters are sold out for 2007 and very well sold for 2008

Malt call-offs are very good time being, helped by the unusually warm and sunny weather, market analysts commented May 2nd. Sometimes the question is asked, whether there could be a malt hole in summer. Do all brewers have a sufficient cover, and can all maltsters fulfil their commitments?

The other problem seems to be that virtually all maltsters are sold out for 2007 and very well sold for 2008. That is reported from Europe, North America and Australia. But brewers have not covered their total demand for next year.

Could it be true that brewers should just secure their supplies and forget about the price side of contracts? The next few months will show, and in any case for the first time in years not only barley, but also malt markets look very tight indeed.