Canada: CWB�s commentary on barley pool returns

According to the August Pool Return Outlook for the 2005-06 crop year of the CWB released on August 25, pool returns for designated barley trended down slightly in August due to the strengthening Canadian dollar. The market is awaiting the outcome of the western Canadian harvest, while the Australian harvest will not commence until December; crop conditions in the latter have improved since last month amid favorable moisture levels.

New crop supplies of feed barley from the Black Sea region are now making their way to market, which has pressured global feed barley values downward. Along with a strengthening Canadian dollar, ocean freight rates have increased considerably since last month, which in turn has further diminished market values at the West Coast.

The Pool A feed barley PRO is $2 per tonne lower while malting barley PROs are $1 per tonne lower.