World: Malting barley prices steady to higher as dryness concern creeps into markets

Global barley prices are mixed on a regional perspective and especially regarding the spreads between malting and feed barley, RMI Analytics said in their latest report published on May 8.

On feed barley, the global softening of corn/maize prices is applying downward pressure on the overall feed complex.

With the global weakness in malting barley demand, there is good quality barley going into feed channels as crop’24 winds down to an end - adding to bearishness in feed barley. For malting barley, prices are steady to higher as dryness concerns begin to creep into markets.

Malting barley premiums are reasonably healthy as seeding progresses in key markets, an important factor to help maintain barley area. Dryness may bring about a slight increase in barley area, if dryness persists. In the meantime, farmers are busy in many regions planting spring barley, and not selling barley to the same extent, thereby reducing liquidity, at least for the very short term, the analysts said.