Canada: Barley exports slow down in January

Canadian barley exports slowed down in January, but out-of-country movement is still running ahead of the year-ago pace, according to updated export data from the Canadian Grain Commission.

Canada exported 131,100 tonnes of barley from licensed facilities in January, with China the top customer taking 100,500 tonnes. Total barley exports were well off the 344,500 tonnes moved the previous month and the smallest monthly total since 69,100 tonnes moved in August 2022.

Year-to-date barley exports through the first half of the 2022-23 marketing year of 1.696 million tonnes compare with 1.572 million at the same point the previous year.

Feed barley bids across Western Canada have edged slightly lower over the past month, with the spot market topping out at C$9.36 per bushel in Alberta, according to Prairie Ag Hotwire data. Prices in Manitoba and Saskatchewan are off the Alberta levels, with the top end in those provinces at C$7.25 and C$7.90 per bushel respectively.

Feedlots remain relatively well covered for the time being, with steady corn imports from the U.S. in addition to the easing export movement expected to remain limiting factors for the time being. Looming spring road bans may also have an influence on movement in the local market.

Since September, Canada has imported 262,700 tonnes of U.S. corn as of Feb. 23, with an additional 207,800 tonnes of outstanding business, according to the latest U.S. Department of Agriculture report. That’s well off the 1.88 million tonnes of imports and 1.60 million tonnes of outstanding sales at the same time the previous year when drought conditions limited domestic grain supplies.

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