EU: Feed barley prices in the EU eased during March, pressured by limited demand for open market supplies, particularly after the announcement of an export tender for the sale (from 31 March) of over 0.5 million tonnes from German intervention stocks, IGC posted on March 31. Weekly export refund applications were rejected amid steadily rising minimum bids, increasing from €14.99 at end- February, to €17.79 on 17 March. Daily export licence awards in the four weeks to 22 March amounted to 81,000 tons. Delivered values in France fell over €6, to end at €101 (Rouen, basis July), while UK prices finished around £2 lower, at around £70 (delivered East Anglia). Notional export quotations initially held unchanged, at around $155 in France (excluding any restitution), supported by the dollar falling in value against the euro. However, with the dollar‘s mid-month rebound, French quotations slipped to $146 fob.

During the first three weeks of March, import licences for over 30,000 tons of feed (at €16 duty) were awarded under the 0.3 million tonnes TRQ, with 91,279 tonnes remaining for the year. A decline in exports from Black Sea ports left quotations in Ukraine slightly lower, falling $5, to under $130 fob, with added pressure from the weaker EU market. Deliveries to Saudi Arabia were reported substantially down on the previous month. Russian fob prices remained steady, at about $130 fob, amid regular shipments.

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