UK: Barley crop estimated at up to 7.4 mln tonnes
The British barley crop, estimated at 7.2 7.4 mln tonnes, cannot be part of the official EU estimate, nevertheless it is very important for the malting barley supply and demand in Western Europe, H. M. Gauger GmbH reported earlier this month.
The nations winter barley production (only 200 - 250 thousand tonnes of malting barley) disappointed, but harvest results to-date and total prospects of spring barley are surprisingly good.
In spite of frequent rain interruptions, yields and qualities to-date were hardly affected, the malting barley potential approaching 2.2 mln tonnes.
Export surplus estimates are as high as 750 thousand tonnes, mainly from south-western England. Logistics usually reduce the theoretical surplus, the analysts warn.