Importers continue to lower barley prices, which lowers prices in Ukraine

The results of the latest barley procurement tenders indicate a further decline in prices from importers, which continues to reduce export demand for feed barley in Ukraine.

 

The Tunisian State Grain Agency (ODC) purchased 100,000 tons of feed barley in an international tender on October 28 at an average price of $292.88/ton C&F, which is $12.8/ton C&F lower than the price of the previous tender on September 23, and the Jordanian State Procurement Agency (MIT) purchased 60,000 tons of feed barley of any origin in an international tender on October 27 for delivery in the first half of January 2027 at a price of $292.25/ton C&F, which is $26.25/ton lower than the September 9 auction price.

 

Export demand prices for feed barley remain at the level of 6,500–7,200 UAH/t or $140–150/t with delivery to Danube ports, but due to the continuous increase in delivery costs, domestic purchase prices continue to decline.

 

Processors have reduced purchase prices for feed barley to UAH 4,500-5,000/t with delivery to the mill, and are conducting limited purchases against the backdrop of large supply.

 

Malt mills have practically stopped purchasing spring malting barley due to a lack of free storage capacity and low rates of malt sales and shipments.

 

Barley exports from Ukraine in the first 30 days of October amounted to only 34 thousand tons (compared to 216 thousand tons in October 2025), and in total since the beginning of the 2026/27 MY reached 482 thousand tons (1.89 million tons for the same period last year).

 

By the end of the season, Ukraine can still export 2.5–3 million tons of barley, which allows importers to hope for supplies in the second half of the season. According to the European Commission, from July 1 to October 25, 2026, EU countries increased barley imports compared to the corresponding period of the previous season by 21.3% from 186.23 to 225.96 thousand tons (462.51 thousand tons in 2024/25 MY), in particular, Ukraine increased supplies to the EU by 3.7 times from 18.96 to 69.83 thousand tons.

 

Ukraine's share in the European barley market in the 2026/27 MY increased from 10.18% to 30.9%, making it the largest supplier of barley to the EU, ahead of Moldova (65.85 thousand tons or 29.14%) and the United Kingdom (58.22 thousand tons or 25.77%), which was the leader last year with a share of 57.17%.

 

According to Agritel, physical prices for feed barley in France have remained at €207/t over the past two weeks, but due to the depreciation of the euro, the dollar price has fallen to $231/t FOB Rouen, while spring malting barley prices have fallen by €2/t to €236/t FOB Cray under pressure from falling feed corn prices.