USA: Hop stocks as of September 1 were down 18% year-on-year

The inventory of hops held by growers, dealers, and brewers of the USA on September 1, 2006, totalled 49.0 million pounds, 18 percent less than the September 1, 2005 stocks of 60.0 million pounds and 25 percent below September 1, 2004, the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture released on September 19.

This is the lowest September 1 inventory since 2000 when stocks were 48.0 million pounds.

Stocks held by brewers, at 35.0 million pounds, were up 2.0 million pounds from September 1, 2005 and 1.0 million pounds above September 1, 2004. Stocks held by growers and dealers on September 1, 2006, were 14.0 million pounds, 48 percent less than the stocks on hand last year and 55 percent under two years ago.