EU: EU’s malt exports decline in crop year 2019/20

Taxud malt export data show EU’s total crop year 2019/20 shipments at 2.649 mln tonnes (last year 2.863) in grain equivalent, H. M. Gauger GmbH said in their August report.

Exports started to fall off sharply in June. In July 1- 26, 99,000 tonnes were exported, 44% less than a year ago.

According to industry sources, at present malt call-offs for domestic European markets are surprisingly good, but exports much slower than in past years, depending on the situation in the receiver countries.

EU maltsters reacted with some partial or full shut-downs, but nevertheless built up rather large stocks. A consequence is not only a future smaller malt production, but also a very cautious planning of barley procurement. Unused barley of crop 2019 and likely lower malt demand in 2021 will reduce the demand for this year’s barley crop by 10 to 20%, the Gauger analysts forecast.

Farmers abstain stubbornly from markets, as the premium of malting above feed barley is excessively low. Already now winter and even spring malting barley disappears in the feed sector.