World: Barley crop forecast slightly down on drops in EU, UK, Russia production

World barley crop’25 forecast is reduced slightly, -0.3 mln tonnes to 144.7 mln tonnes, with a small drop in EU27+UK and Russia contributing to the decline, RMI Analytics said in their early August report.

A smaller European maize crop is expected to boost feeding demand for barley, reducing further the ending stocks forecast for crop’25.

The global picture for malting barley production is generally improved, as Argentina’s crop is planted, further rains are helping Canada and Australia crop development. For the six major barley growing regions, the prospects for a reasonable quality result are good.

With a forecasted 108.5 mln tonnes supply from the six major areas, it is increasingly difficult to think of a bullish scenario for malting barley prices, the analysts said.

There are delays in harvest for parts of Europe but the forecast is expected to clear, and with no major quality issues reported despite the past month of wetter conditions. Black Sea delays are, in the near term, supportive to feed barley values, but this region has minimal malting barley market influence and eventually harvest will advance in Russia and Ukraine.