Global prices for malting barley continue to rise

Global prices for malting barley are gradually rising and have already crossed previous records, according to RMI Analytics experts in a report released in late September.

​​​​​​​​​​Canadian barley is now significantly more expensive than barley from other countries, as the amount of damage to the crop has not yet been definitively estimated. Presumably, the country will have to import malting barley. In other countries, barley prices are either consistently high or continue to rise, E - malt reports. The premium for brewing quality is also increasing, while feed barley prices have fallen slightly.

Market activity declined as some buyers, particularly China, cut purchases as a result of high price levels.

The main suppliers for China are now France and Argentina, while Australia is receiving more and more requests from buyers looking for high quality and reasonable prices. In Europe, the 2022 harvest is in high demand, with prices lower than for the 2021 harvest.

Analysts warn that against the background of an increasing shortage of malting barley, it is unlikely that we should expect a decline in barley prices in the near future.  

In Ukraine, the premium for malting barley relative to feed barley at the beginning of the season was 500-800 UAH/ton, and now processors are ready to increase it for high-quality grain.

In the first three months of my 2021/22, Ukraine exported 3.7 million tons out of the projected 5 million tons, while in the previous season barley exports amounted to 4.2 million tons. this increases competition for high-quality barley, especially against the background of low nature and high protein levels in the current season.

Against the background of rising prices for corn to 2 255-260/ton and feed wheat to фу 265-270/ton, demand for Ukrainian barley has also increased, and now the market is waiting for the results of the tender in Turkey, which plans to purchase 300 thousand tons of barley.