EU: Barley crop estimate virtually unchanged this month

The EU Commission�s barley crop estimate is virtually unchanged from a month ago (at 52.926 mln tonnes), H. M. Gauger GmbH reported earlier this month.

The southern and western EU have finished the barley harvest. Spanish barley production is 9.435 mln tonnes, of which 8.54 mln tonnes of 2-row and 0.9 mln tonnes of 6-row barley. In France yields and qualities of winter barley were very good, of spring barley hardly satisfactory, with low yields, test weights and calibration.

Barley use in the industry must shift back strongly towards 6-row barley, the industry observers believe. Traditionally 25 % of 6-row barley were used in the malting sector, which would be too low this year; 30-35% of the winter barley crop of 8.3 mln tonnes will be necessary to satisfy domestic, EU and 3rd countries� demand.

Germany has not yet completed its spring barley harvest, rains stopped combining, and much barley in the highlands is still in the fields. Yields and qualities vary, as in France, and are altogether disappointing.