EU: Barley supply situation generally positive despite smaller crop this year

Despite a smaller barley crop at 58.24 mln tonnes, compared to 2021, the European supply situation is generally positive in terms of availability of quality malting barley, RMI Analytics said in their latest report.

Lately rains have fallen across all of Europe and continue to improve soil moisture conditions in advance of 2022 spring crop seeding. Also, river levels (e.g. Germany) are refilling from extremely low levels during the summer.

The EU-27 + UK have a surplus of malting barley; the Russian crop is likely in excess of 22 mln tonnes, adding to supply.

Regarding concerns about energy markets and natural gas demand, temperatures have been slightly below normal in France and Germany but normal to above across the rest of Europe.

European barley prices are firming despite good availability of malting barley, mainly due to farmer selling being non-existent.