EU malt exporters booked licences for 1.32 million tonnes until January 25, 2005. Fixations last year were 1.46 million tonnes at the same date. At the same pace of bookings until June 30 the annual figure could arrive at 2.555 million tonnes. Statistics have changed since the accession of 10 more countries to the EU. If exports of the a.m. 2.555 million tonnes could be realized, they would match exactly the combined performance of the EU-15 and EU-10 in the grain year 2003/04. However, prospects are that exports will be smaller in 2005. According to experts, the present embargo of Russia on malt from Denmark, Germany and The Netherlands will be an additional handicap.

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