Spain & Portugal & Italy: Barley crops ruined by heat and drought this year

Heat and drought ruined grain crops in large parts of Italy and the Iberian Peninsula, H. M. Gauger GmbH reported on August 2.

The Spanish barley crop is estimated at 5.6 mln tonnes vs. 9.4 mln a year ago. Initial estimates are that the region will have to import 350,000 tonnes: Spain 200,000, Portugal 100,000, Italy 50,000 tonnes, the analysts said.

Feed and malting barley markets are firm, as supplies are very tight in the EU and worldwide. There are still large shorts in the industry and trade, while farmers stubbornly do not sell. The final outcome of the crop will be of utmost importance, a further price increase cannot be excluded.

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