EU: Analysts no longer anticipating surplus spring malting barley in the EU in 2018/19

The potential impact of heat stress on world wheat crops in Russia, Australia, the US and the EU has been well reported. However, sweltering heat and dryness in the northern parts of Europe is also sparking concerns for supplies of spring malting barley, AHDB reported on July 20.

The hot and dry conditions have resulted in increased concerns over yield and nitrogen levels in Northern Europe. Temperatures in northern Germany, Sweden, Denmark and the UK have been significantly above average over the past few months, and rainfall has been lacking. As a result the French agency Stratégie Grains now anticipates no surplus spring malting barley in the EU in 2018/19, when a notable surplus was previously expected.

It is still too early to know the full impact of the dry weather on spring crops both in the UK and northern parts of the EU. However, the dry conditions have reportedly led to an extending premium of spring malting barley over feed barley.

As harvest results come in we will start to get a clearer indication of the state of spring barley crops and their malting potential.