North America: Canada and US barley crops seen slightly smaller this year

Statistics Canada reduced its barley crop estimate slightly to 10.4 mln vs. 10.55 mln tonnes last year. Private estimates are as high as 11 mln tonnes, with an export surplus of 3.0 mln, H. M. Gauger GmbH reported earlier in October.

The harvest went smoothly, and the barley quality is good, with a large percentage of selectable malting barley. If almost 2 mln tonnes are already sold to China, the export target looks realistic. However, port capacity is large, but limited, and wheat exports from Pacific ports are more profitable than barley.

The Small Grains report of the USDA shows a US barley crop of 165 mln bushels (3.6 mln tonnes), down from 3.75 mln last year. The main production states were: Idaho 1.2 mln tonnes, Montana 1.0 mln, North Dakota 0.63 mln tonnes.