Saudi Arabia: Barley import may drop to 8 mln tonnes this season

As per the latest count, Saudi Arabia's livestock of 14.7 mln head consists of 13.4 mln sheep and goats, 800,000 camels and 500,000 cows. In addition 9 mln head, mainly sheep, are imported for slaughtering. Barley imports were 11.2 mln tonnes in July/June 2015/16; in 2016/17 purchases point to imports of only 8.0 mln tonnes, H. M. Gauger GmbH reported.

80% of all barley is fed to livestock in its raw form. The U.S. Embassy at Riyadh reports a Saudi policy change to promote compound feed (containing much corn) vs. barley. But compound feed production is less than 5 mln tonnes, and feed demand will increase by another 4 mln tonnes, when green forage production must end by the end of 2018.

It remains to be seen whether administrative targets or commercial demand will win. Some years ago the U.S. Embassy, came out with a similar report, which proved incorrect. At that time local traders said: camels love barley.

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