EU & UK: Favourable weather contributes to significant progress in winter barley plantings

Favourable weather conditions have significantly contributed to excellent progress in winter barley planting in Europe, with 80% reportedly sown compared to the average of 76%, RMI Analytics said in their latest report.

From a production standpoint, the experts’ estimate remains steady at 62.5 mln tonnes, the same holds for Russia and Ukraine. The UK market has tighter malting barley availability in crop’25, which is 0.6 mln tonnes smaller than crop’24, but demand remains weak.

While the current barley crop’25 situation maintains a comfortable supply, some cracks are beginning to show. A robust demand for feed barley is bolstering overall barley prices, and likely diverting quality malting barley into feed channels. Indications that feed barley prices are comparable to, or even higher than malting barley, which is extremely unusual. Such a market dynamic wouldn't endure for long, or it could lead to lasting consequences, the RMI experts believe.