EU: Barley crop estimated at 55.2 million t, barley crop figures by country still speculative

Harvest has finished in the southern half of the EU, but barley crop figures from most countries are still speculative, analysts reported September 01.

In Spain there is a sharp contrast between the Ministry's figure of 8.2 million t and trade figures of 7.0 – 7.5 million t. French figures stabilized at 7.5 million t of winter and 2.9 million t of spring barley vs. 7.1 and 3.2 million t last year. The IGC estimates the EU barley crop at 55.2 million t vs. 53.1 million t in 2005, but it seems quite possible that the final figure will not be higher than last year's crop.

Wheat and maize crops will be smaller than last year, high prices of feed wheat and maize have made feed barley an attractive feeder, usage is expected up by 3 - 4 million t. Prices are firm, feed barley, July, FOB Creil, costs €111.00, delivered Rouen €116.00, October/December, delivered Northwest Germany €126.00, and delivered Holland 130.00. For comparison, in surplus years prices stay close the intervention price of €101.31.