World: Forecast for world barley production in 2005-2006 by different analysts

World production of barley in 2005/06 is estimated at 138.5 million tonnes by the IGC, 15 million tonnes lower than a year before. There were smaller crops everywhere except for Australia.

World trade of 17.4 million tonnes is slightly higher. IGC estimates the trade of malting barley to reach 4.7 million tonnes, but the imports estimations of our analysts are lower.

Grain crops in 2006 will be affected by poor autumn and winter conditions in the CIS countries, possibly also by dryness in the U.S. Plains. IGC sees the world wheat crop at 588 million tonnes, 27 million tonnes lower than in 2005. Winter kill in Eastern Europe could lead to larger plantings of spring barley. At present it looks like a normal or larger world barley crop this year.

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