Japan: MAFF purchased 60 TMT of US barley out of 204.18 TMT

The Japanese MAFF held their third feed barley SBS import tender on June 13 and reportedly purchased 60 TMT of US barley out of a total purchases of 204.18 TMT.

USDA lowered their barley production estimates this month for Ukraine by 2 MMT to 9.0 MMT, compared to 11.35 MMT last year, due to recent severe drought conditions. Ukrainian barley exports were cut by 1.0 MMT to 3.5 MMT, while EU exports were raised by .3 MMT to 3.0 MMT.

European beer demand is expected to be stronger this year after the hottest and sunniest springs on record. That is good for beer demand but not good for producing malting barley, with crops now expected to be lower in several countries in the region. USDA cut their estimate of Chinese barley imports by .2 MMT this month to 2.0 MMT, due to record high world prices which has prompted many domestic brewers to substitute other grains in brewing beer.