EU: Both malting and feed barley prices succumb to harvest pressure

EU barley prices have succumbed to the harvest pressure in both wheat and barley, with prices down firmly, RMI Analytics said in their latest report published on July 10.
France’s malting barley price is feeling direct pressure from Paris wheat futures, which fell below EUR 200/tonne, and now are in a range between EUR195-200.

For feed barley, the recent rains are providing some short-term stability, as Black Sea execution of vessel loading is being impacted by a late harvest and limited farmer selling. When harvest restarts the pressure on feed barley should return, and with that malting barley also likely facing pressure.

Spring barley crops in Denmark and the UK are nearing maturity and may benefit slightly from the recent rains as the filling phase concludes. Ideally a clearing forecast brings the crop to maturity and allows harvest to proceed normally. In the meantime, the market direction for malting barley is mainly set by the French market, with Denmark/UK in-step lower.