Ukraine: Barley export prices pushed up by Chinese demand

A sharp jump in Chinese demand has pushed up Ukrainian barley export prices in the 2020/21 season, analyst APK-Inform said on September 18.

Ukraine is a long-standing barley grower and Saudi Arabia was its main export market for years.

"But this year, Chinese demand is just off scale," APK-Inform said, noting that in July-August China imported 97% more Ukrainian barley than in the same period of the previous season.

The consultancy said Chinese demand had caused a 20% increase in Ukrainian barley export prices so far this season, with prices reaching $177-189 per tonne CPT Black Sea as of Sept. 18.

Ukraine's economy ministry said last month the barley harvest could fall to 7.3 million tonnes in 2020 versus 8.9 million in 2019, and that exports might decrease to 3.3 million tonnes in 2020/21 from 5.1 million in 2019/20.