EU: Malting barley prices have eased

EU malting barley prices have eased this week, especially in France, GrainCom reported on July 14.

The risk premium in French spring malting barley of about 10,- EUR/tonne that the market added because of high protein fears is gone today. For the first time since long ago, French origin is more or less at same value as UK and Scandinavian prices and therefore competitive. The GrainCom analysts warn, however, that prices came down but the �big picture� did not change.

French quality seems to be in line (at least from what we know today), but yields are only average or slightly below average, which is reducing the overall exportable surplus out of the EU-28. The market needs good crops in UK and Scandinavia, where the harvest of spring barley is still around one month away.

The "weather market" is not over yet and the S&D for barley as well as malting barley does not look really comfortable, judging by today�s data.