EU: Regarding barley crop 2006, brewers and maltsters covered at least a one month demand less than in normal years

Old crop barley markets are completely dormant; there is no further demand and few, mostly unattractive offers, market analysts commented May 2nd.

�We will never know exactly, how the large deficit of crop 2006 was covered, but there exist incredible stories about sprouted barley, FAQ (=feed) barley, barley sold and transported from one corner of Europe to another, and also imports, from Argentina, Uruguay and Ukraine.

France had a very good crop last year and finally delivered large quantities of spring and winter barley to the EU deficit countries. Maybe most important, brewers and maltsters covered at least a one month demand less than in normal years, hoping for a better supply and offer of barley of crop 2007.