USA: Total barley use in the United States is forecast by IGC at a four-year high of 6.1 million tonnes (5.0 million tonnes), mainly because of increased feed demand from expanding livestock sectors, according to IGC Market Report from February 24. February’s official forecast of feed use in the US was placed 0.4 million tonnes higher than before, at 2.8 million tonnes (1.8 million tonnes), but food (malting), seed and industrial use was reduced by the same amount, to 3.3 million tonnes (3.2 million tonnes). The change reflects new historical data from the US Treasury Department, which showed use of barley for brewing was smaller than previously estimated by USDA, contributing to a decline in food and industrial use since the mid-1990’s.

While beer production and consumption in the US has been broadly stable in recent years, demand for barley malt for brewing has been hit by the rising popularity of low-malt beers as well as improved malt extraction from new barley varieties. Increased use of substitutes in brewing, in particular rice, has also affected barley malt demand.

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