Germany: Slight hops acreage decrease expected

First preliminary figures are now available for the German set-aside and clearing programme, Joh. Barth & Sohn GmbH & Co. KG, the agricultural company that processes and trades hops and hop products worldwide, announced at the beginning of July 2005.

German hops acreage is reported to be 93.6 ha (231 acres) aroma hops and 311.9 ha (770 acres) bitter and high alpha hops – mainly the variety Hallertauer Magnum. Apart from this programme, approx. 200 ha (494 acres) bitter hops are supposed to have been cleared. “We assume that the aroma hop acreage increased by approx. 370 ha (914 acres). Due to the change in the payment of EU subsidies to growers, the procedure of the acreage survey has been changed and delayed. Reliable statistics are expected by mid-July.”

Acreage reduction in the bitter and high alpha segment is therefore -8.6%. The market 2005 clearly shows an end to oversupply, one indicator being the reduced stocks in the hands of the hop trade and the brewing industry which balanced the deficit from crop 2003.

Practically all aroma hops grown have been sold by pre-contract. All additional sales must therefore be made on the spot market. The varieties Hallertau Tradition, Spalt Select and Perle are especially scarce. Only an above-average crop would ease this tense situation. An average crop will ensure sufficient supply with German high alpha hops. However, no big surplus quantities are expected that used to burden the marketing of spot hops in the past years.

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