EU: The EU malting barley market remained quiet during March tins year, attracting limited buying interest, IGC commented on March 31. Scarlett spring variety fell EUR 2, to EUR 111.50, delivered Rouen ($160 fob, down $5 from early March). Old-crop Danish Barke variety also decreased by around EUR 2 in similar quiet activity. Canada’s CWB and Australia’s ABB Ltd. released their initial pool outlooks for 2005/06 malting barley, with respective indicators $A30 (US$23) and C$6-8 (US$5-$7) below current season estimates. Reasons cited for the lower figures included an expected increase in global supplies, high freight rates and the strength of local currencies. Old-crop cash prices offered by ABB Ltd. were steady, Sloop Grade 1 quoted at A$185 ($143), compared with A$170 ($131) for new-crop.

Tunisia bought 25,000 tons of European feed barley, at $163.74 c&f, April. Japan purchased 200,000 tons of feed at a simultaneous buy and sell (SBS) tender, March/May, and 40,000 tons of Australian malting barley at separate ordinary tenders, May. Source: IGC

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