Barley prices in Ukraine are falling due to lack of export demand, but world quotes are supported by rising prices at the Tunisian tender

The work of grain terminals in Black Sea ports has been stopped due to constant shelling of the Odessa region with missiles and UAVs, so traders buy grain only in Danube ports, but demand for barley is still at a minimal level.

Export demand prices for feed barley remain at a low level of 7,000-7,800 UAH/t or $140-150/t with delivery to Danube ports, but in the near future they may be supported by an increase in exchange prices for wheat and corn and purchase prices at importer tenders.

In 22 days of August, Ukraine exported only 61 thousand tons of barley (247 thousand tons in August 2025), and in total for the season - 360 thousand tons (compared to 504 thousand tons for the same period last year) out of the 2.5-3 million tons forecast for this season.

Processors are actively buying feed barley at a price of 5,500-6,500 UAH/t with delivery, and some farmers are ready to sell it for 6,000 UAH/t ex-farm.

Malt mills started buying spring malting barley at UAH 8,000/t, but over the past 10 days prices have fallen to UAH 6,700-7,000/t delivered to the mill due to large supply and lack of free space to accumulate cheap raw materials. Demand for malt remains quite low, so no increase in demand for malting barley is expected in the coming months.

Against the backdrop of reduced barley supplies from Ukraine and the Russian Federation, demand prices with delivery to buyers have increased to the level of $280-290/t CIF - Middle Eastern countries, which is used by EU countries.

Thus, the Tunisian State Grain Agency (ODC) purchased 75 thousand tons of feed barley (presumably of European origin) in an international tender on August 27, 2026, with delivery from September 20 to October 25 at an average price of $301.7/ton C&F, which significantly exceeds the purchase price of the previous tender on April 24, where ODC purchased 25 thousand tons of feed barley with delivery in May at a price of $265.45/ton C&F.

The European Union reduced barley exports by 51% to 1.14 million tons compared to the previous season in the period from July 1 to August 23, 2026, primarily due to reduced demand from China, which in the 2026/27 MY reduced imports of European barley by 10.5 times from 870.3 to 83.1 thousand tons. In turn, the main buyer of European barley was Saudi Arabia, which imported 608.5 thousand tons or 53.4% of total exports. Jordan increased purchases to 207.9 thousand tons and provided another 18.3% of exports.

The main exporters of barley among EU countries remain Romania (877.9 thousand tons or 77.1% of total exports), Bulgaria (104.2 thousand tons), France (82.7 thousand tons) and Germany (66.7 thousand tons).

According to Agritel, physical prices for French feed barley increased by 5.6% over the month to €214.5/t or $250/t FOB Rouen, while spring malting barley remained unchanged at €236/t FOB Cray.