World: Barley unusually expensive in domestic markets due to China’s change of suppliers
China’s political decision to disallow barley imports from Australia has not only changed the flow of barley in the world, but has also created an expensive price system for some importers, e.g. China, Mexico. And also important, it has led to unusually high cost of domestic barley in the suppliers’ markets - Argentina plus neighbours in Mercosur, Canada, France plus EU neighbours, Ukraine - which requires changes in the procurement and industrial usage of (feed) barley, H. M. Gauger GmbH reported earlier in December.
The price differences between the Club of Four and the non-suppliers of China are US$30 to 40 per tonne, local sources report.
The attractively priced sellers are Russia, the EU excluding France, and most of all Australia. Saudi Arabia booked 730 thousand tonnes, Turkey 155 thousand, Tunisia 92 thousand, Thailand 79 thousand tonnes, Iran unknown quantities; Jordan (120 thousand tonnes) and Qatar (100 thousand) have announced tenders. Interesting news is that Saudi Arabia will return the barley procurement fully or partly back to the trade. Reports are that Saudi traders already booked up to half a million tonnes.
Malting barley has been neglected in recent market action, except for China’s very limited and Mexico’s purchases. China must be short for spring/summer, and there is little old crop malting barley available in the EU and Canada.
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