France: Barley stocks expected to be considerably tighter this marketing year

Barley stocks in France at the end of the current marketing year will likely be considerably tighter than earlier estimates, due to solid exports to Saudi Arabia, according to a report from FranceAgriMer.

French barley carryout for 2016/17 is now forecast at 1.0 million tonnes, well below the previous estimate of 1.6 million. FranceAgriMer also lowered its soft wheat ending stocks projection to 2.7 million tonnes, from 3.0 million. However, corn supplies will likely end up slightly above earlier estimates, at 2.0 million tonnes.

Chicago Board of Trade corn futures were stronger on April 12, as forecasts calling for wet weather across much of the Midwest should cause spring seeding delays.

Feed barley bids in the key cattle feeding area of Lethbridge, Alberta were in the C$160 to C$165 per tonne range as of April 7, which were down slightly compared to the previous week, according to the latest pricing information from the provincial government. Top end feed wheat prices were steady, at C$180 to C$185 per tonne in Lethbridge.