EU: EU malt exporters booked licences for 180,000 tonnes in July

EU malt exporters booked licences for 180,000 tonnes in July. Converted to a year�s figure, it would be close to 2.2 million tonnes. Such figure matches the EU malt exports of the past crop year. Exports had declined by 300,000 tonnes, and so far nothing points to an improvement in the new season, analysts said. Exports may further decline to Russia, Japan, Thailand, losses should be compensated by larger sales to Latin America, Africa and Southeast Asia except Thailand.

Most domestic EU business was done before July. This month activity in the U.K. was lively, prices better than on the Continent. British maltsters concentrate more and more on their local market, as their cost to export points puts them in an unfavourable position vis-�-vis their Continental colleagues.