EU: Barley crop forecasts in the EU vary from 53.7 to 54.3 mln tonnes
Barley crop forecasts in the EU vary from 53.7 to 54.3 million tonnes, as compared to last year's bumper crop of 61.7 million tonnes. The worst drought of the last 60 years reduced the Spanish crop from 10.6 million tonnes to round about 5.5 million tonnes.
Spain's import needs of all grains will be very substantial, the EU Commission granted a refund for the transport cost from Central Europe to Spain for 500,000 tonnes of intervention grains incl. 100,000 tonnes of barley. It is estimated that Spain purchased close to 1.5 million tonnes of EU feed barley in the open market. The country will also have to import half of its malting barley needs, about 300,000 tonnes, a large part of it is already under contract.
Southwest France and Northern Italy have been hit by heat and draught as well, their crops will be affected. In the North of France, parts of South and West Germany and the South of England the heat wave of June will have some effect on yields and screenings of spring barley. Winter barley in most areas was ripe enough to rather profit from the dry and hot weather, first crop results show excellent yields, good full barley and low protein. During the last week of June thunderstorms, rains and cooler temperatures relieved crops from earlier stress.
Scandinavia and the Baltic coast countries had endured a long, cold winter and spring, planting took place late. Most of the planting delay has been compensated by ideal growing weather since, and crops look very good. Same can be said for most of the U.K. and Ireland. As shown in the following S/D balance for the new crop year, a sufficient supply of malting seems assured, provided normal weather until harvest.
Înapoi
(libra 0.9453 sec.)