EU: Barley crop forecast up 1.2 mln tonnes supported by record crop in Spain

French barley harvest is mostly over with good winter barley yields and quality, plus an average spring barley result but with some quality variability. Widespread rain across the rest of Europe is delaying harvests, RMI Analytics said in their late July report.

The experts’ barley crop’25 forecast has increased 1.2 mln tonnes to 60.2 mln tonnes, supported by a record Spanish crop, and improved yields in France and Germany plus raised expectations in Denmark, Sweden, Poland, and Romania.

EU-27 crop’24 barley exports finished -19.8% below crop’23 levels, illustrating the on-going global slowdown in demand. Malting barley prices are further lower for 2RS but have bounced higher for 6RW.