World: IGC said in October that the world will trade 15.5 million t of barley in 2006
The International Grains Council reduced in October its estimates of the barley world trade figure from 17.6 million t in September 2006 to 15.5 million in October 31, reason being the lack of supplies, experts released October 31.
IGC cut down the imports of China from 2.2 to 1.7 million t and the feed barley imports of Saudi Arabia from 6.5 to 5.5 million t. On the exporters' side the Australian figure of 3.0 million t, Ukraine with 4.0 million t and Russia with 2.4 million t may still be on the high side, while the EU may eventually export more than 3,0 million t. This projection of ex/imports shows how desperately tight barley supplies will be during the current crop year.