China: Estimates of barley imports stay at 2.4 million t for 2006

The country imported 918,000 tons of barley in Jan/April of this year. In theory that could become
2.75 million tons for the calendar year, but most estimates remain at a modest 2.3 - 2.4 million tons, analysts said.

About 600,000 tons were imported from Australia, 300,000 tons from Canada. In the months to come more or less all imports will come from Australia. The malting industry reports good malt markets and full usage of capacities.