EU: Barley crop 2025 forecast at the same level as 2024

For crop’25, the EU’s barley production is expected at the same level as crop’24; most important is the expected recovery in malting barley quality as winter crops rebound, especially in France due to favourable growing conditions, RMI Analytics said in their late January report.

The crop’25 production forecast at 57.5 mln tonnes includes an expected increase in malting quality by 300 thousand tonnes, mainly through the recovery of winter barley quality despite a slight decline in area. A concern is crop’25 spring barley will struggle to maintain maintaining area, as planted area is forecast to drop 4-5% overall led by reductions in key regions like the UK, Germany and France.

Malting barley prices are down a small degree for crop’24 across all markets (Creil, Mosel, Denmark, and the UK). Prices are steadier in crop’25 as planting season lies ahead. The stronger EUR is pushing prices upward in USD terms, offsetting EUR price drops.

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