World: Malting barley prices surprisingly firm despite weakness in commodity markets

Malting barley prices are holding surprisingly firm, despite the weakness in commodity markets (e.g. wheat), and the uncertainty coming from the geopolitical sphere, RMI Analytics said in their latest reports.

A weak USD is firming regional malting barley prices, as local barley prices are not falling to the same extent as the USD decline. Global malting barley prices have converged, awaiting a much-needed summer’25 demand recovery of some form. Feed barley prices are pressured from lower grain markets.

The US tariffs (and corresponding retaliatory tariffs from Canada, Mexico, and China) are dominating the news cycle and raising market uncertainty in the process. However, the fundamentals still point to an ample supply of crop’24 quality malting barley in Canada, Argentina, and Australia, combined with a good early start to European crop’25 spring barley planting to create a very comfortable scenario.