Ukraine: In recent months Ukraine dominated the world barley markets

The Ukraine dominated the world barley markets in recent months. March exports were 594,000 tonnes, bringing the total for the grain year to 3.847 million tonnes. Private estimates put the April shipments at the same level of about 600,000 tonnes.

UkrAgroConsult expects total exports to arrive at 5 million tonnes by June, but lately supplies from the inland have dried up. Planting of spring barley is finished, total barley acres are 4.692 million ha, vs. 5.379 a year ago. The crop expectation is 10.4 vs. 11.4 million tonnes in 2006.

Precipitation was sufficient in the Northwest, but was precariously low in the South, where rain is now urgently needed. Price levels are US$ 200,- per ton, FOB Black Sea ports, but the offered tonnage is small, even more so for new crop barley.