Europe: French malting barley prices lower, barley exports from the Black sea remain brisk

Barley export levels from the Black Sea remain brisk (including Ukraine, although still at lower historical levels) as weather is cooperative and prices are extremely competitive, RMI Analytics said in their early April report.

In March, Ukraine exported 200 thousand tonnes of barley, and Russian ports nearly 300 thousand, both higher than February.

France malting barley prices are sharply lower as the possibility of a resolution to the China-Australia barley tariff dispute threatens the future demand for barley from France. 6-row winter barley prices are down the most, as it would suffer the most from a drop in China’s feed demand.

UK and Danish prices are feeling the downward pressure from French prices but to a slightly lesser degree, as the impact of a China/Australia trade resolution more directly impacts the French origin. Maltsters/brewers are well covered through to new crop harvest.