Australia: Barley pool estimates unchanged

ABB Grain Ltd has reviewed June 27 its SA and Victorian and East Coast gross barley pool indicators for 2005/2006 and has left estimates for malting and feed barley unchanged (all figures in AUD).

ABB Grain’s General Manager Marketing, Nigel Officer, said although the 2005/06 estimates were unchanged, ongoing uncertainties about the likely level of production for the next Australian barley harvest may have a positive effect on malting barley.

“Continued dryness and uncertainty on new season crop yields will have an influence on price trends for 2006/07 barley pools and pricing of remaining malting barley from 2005/06,” Mr Officer said.

Mr Officer said there would be no Canadian or competitive European barley available for the Chinese market until October. Based on ongoing demand from China, ABB was “optimistic” of further increases in malting barley projections.

Current gross estimates are as follows:

South Australian pools - 2005/2006 season
No. 1 malting (closed January 24) - $188/tonne
No.1 feed (closed January 24) - $163/tonne
No.2 malting (opened January 24) - $170/tonne
No.2 feed (opened January 24) - $150/tonne

Victorian and East Coast pools - 2005/2006 season
Victorian No. 1 malting (closed October 31) - $193/tonne
Victorian No.1 feed (closed October 31) - $168/tonne
East coast (Vic, NSW & Qld) No.2 malting (closed January 24) - $188/tonne
East coast (Vic, NSW & Qld) No.2 feed (closed January 24) - $163/tonne
East coast (Vic, NSW & Qld) No.3 malting (opened January 24) - $170/tonne
East coast (Vic, NSW & Qld) No.3 feed (opened January 24) - $150/tonne

A $5/t premium also applies to Baudin and Sloop malting varieties for 2005/2006 although this is the last season that premium will apply.

For the 2006/2007 season, the gross barley pool estimates are $189/t for malting 1 and $170/t for feed 1.

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