USDA Barley Estimate 2004/2005:
World barley production increased 7.1% to 152.5 million metric tonnes.
US production increased by only 0.3% to 6.1 million metric tonnes.
World barley supplies are 2.1% higher at 174.2 million metric tonnes.
US supplies increased by 7.9% to 8.7 million metric tonnes.
World barley trade is expected to increase by 1.1% to 15.3 million metric tonnes.
US exports are expected to increase 26.1% to 0.450 million metric tonnes.
World barley consumption is pegged to decrease by 1.3% to 145.2 million metric tonnes.
US usage projected to increase by 22.1% to 6.1 million metric tonnes.
World barley carryover stocks are estimated to increase 33.3% to 29.1 million metric tonnes.
US carryout is projected to increase by 3.6% to 2.7 million metric tonnes.

On February 10 USDA raised their estimate of Australia barley exports in 2004/2005 by 500,000 tonnes to 3.8 million as a result of an aggressive, early season sales and shipment pace. Bulgaria and Romania barley are each cut by 100,000 tonnes (to 200,000 tonnes and 400,000 tonnes respectively) because of sluggish sales and shipments. Russia barley is slashed by 500,000 tons in light of an export pace that is 1.0 million tonnes behind last year due to a sluggish export pace. Ukraine barley is raised by 200,000 tonnes, reflecting recent trade data. Early season shipments are over 1.0 million tonnes ahead of last year, USDA said on February 10.

USA: USDA made adjustments to their domestic barley consumption estimate this month by lowering food (malt) use by 22 million bushels to 150 million bushels (3.27 million tonnes), increasing feed usage by 20 million bushels to 130 million bushels (2.83 million metric tonnes) and raising ending stocks by 2 million bushels to 125 million bushels (2.71 million tonnes) for 2004/2005. Exports were left unchanged at 15 million bushels (327 thousand tonnes), despite a sluggish export pace so far this year.

USDA’s export sales report showed export shipments last week at 6.2 thousand metric tonnes (TMT). Destinations included Japan and Canada. New export sales were 200 MT, all to Japan.

The EU Grains Management Committee approved 80.4 TMT of free-market barley for export with a subsidy of 13.98 euros/MT in their weekly tender. The Japanese Agriculture Ministry (MAFF) purchased 20 TMT of Australian food barley and 8 TMT of Canadian food barley in their weekly tender.

USA: Idaho barley prices were steady last week to 20 cents lower in southern Idaho and 25 cents higher in northern Idaho.

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