World: Global barley production, trade forecasts up in USDA�s December report

Global barley trade is forecast to reach 30.813 mln tonnes in 2025/26, only marginally lower than the 30.978 mln forecast for 2024/25, USDA said in their December report.

Compared to their November estimate, the forecast is up 500,000 tonnes owing to increase in shipments now expected for the EU (+300,000 tonnes vs the November report), Canada (+300,000) and Australia (+200 thousand).

Import expectations are up for China only (+500 thousand tonnes).

World barley crop 2025/26 is seen at 152.944 mln tonnes vs 149.819 mln in the November forecast and 143.273 mln forecast for 2024.25. Larger crops are expected in the EU (56 mln tonnes, up from 50.285 mln in 2024/25), Australia (15.5 mln vs. 13.265 in 2024/25), Canada (9.725 vs. 8.144 mln tonnes), and Russia (18.6 mln vs 16.25 mln tonnes last crop year).

Global barley consumption is seen at 150.95 mln tonnes (148.898 mln in the November forecast, 146.504 mln in 2024/25) and ending stocks at 20.734 mln tonnes (19.821 and 18.74 mln tonnes, respectively).