EU: Barley output estimated at 59.34 mln tonnes in 2016/17

The EU Commission’s latest barley S/D balance (published at the end of December) estimates the EU’s barley output at 59.34 mln tonnes in 2016/17 vs. 61.36 mln tonnes in 2015/16, H. M. Gauger GmbH reported earlier this month.

Imports are seen down to 271 thousand tonnes from 306 thousand the previous year, but domestic use is forecast to increase to 49.543 mln tonnes from 48.522 mln tonnes in 2015/16.

Exports (including malt) may halve to 7 mln tonnes from 14.2 mln in 2015/16, the EU Commission said.

Final stocks are seen at 8.615 mln tonnes vs. 5.548 mln last year.

Barley export shipments in 1 July/24 January 2016/17 were 2.526 mln tonnes vs. 6.406 mln tonnes a year ago. World trade is sharply down, and EU barley was uncompetitive most of the time, following the crop calamity in France last summer.

Winter weather has led to low water levels in rivers, later to ice blocking navigation, and it will increase farm feeding. There will be some winter kill in Central and Eastern Europe, but the amount of damage so far is not alarming. It is an old experience, though, that yields of winter grains suffer from long cold winters, the Gauger analysts said.

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