Canada: Malting barley export prices steady amid weak demand

Canada’s export prices are steady for malting barley in a market where a clear weak demand environment persists (e.g. China). China appears to be acting upon their intended slowdown in the pace of grain imports (including barley), RMI Analytics said in their early October report.

Domestically, commercial maltsters are searching through variable quality to select and contracting values are a slight premium to export values.

Domestic feed barley prices are slightly higher driven by the completion of harvest, and the on-going influence of delivered US corn prices which are stronger lately.

Farmer selling is low, adding a liquidity challenge from a seasonal point of view, where the end of harvest creates no urgency for farmers to sell. On current exports, sellers are actively trying to cover earlier deals.