Germany: Germany may have to import up to 1.2 mln tonnes of spring malting barley this year

The Braugersten-Gemeinschaft reports a supply of domestic malting barley of 1.2 mln tonnes but it also shows in the same statistics that only half, about 600,000 tonnes, will have protein contents below 11.5%, H. M. Gauger GmbH reported in December.

Germany�s industry estimates are that 800-850,000 tonnes of malting barley would be available with proteins up to 12%. The problem areas are in the south, Bayern, Baden-W�rttemberg, Rheinland-Pfalz.

As the malting industry works at nearly full capacity, imports of spring malting barley may amount to 1.1�1.2 mln tonnes; on top of it 200-250,000 tonnes of 6RW barley. Imports must come mainly from France and Denmark; Czech and Slovak supplies drop out this year, the Gauger analysts said.