World: The demand for barley remains weak

World production slightly higher than last year but Chinese purchases are sharply down The 2024/25 barley production is expected to be slightly higher than last year (145 million/t), thanks to an improvement in yields that largely offsets the decline in sown areas. However, consumption is down, due to the contraction in food uses and with these prospects on the international markets an increase in stocks will materialize with a trend in prices that, barring synergistic effects in support from other straw cereals and corn, will remain at current levels with the risk of moments of stagnation in trade (also estimated to be down 8% year on year). In Europe heterogeneous harvests The harvests in Europe have given heterogeneous results in terms of specifications, due to a very different climate trend. The lack of sunny days and excessive rainfall have reduced quality in many areas of France and Germany, where the winter harvest has given disappointing analytical responses. Even in Spain ...