World: Despite lower production, barley prices tend to decline

(NAP) Despite forecasts of low global production, feed and malting barley prices have fallen due to weakness in the overall grain market. The decline is again supported by weakness in other grain markets, primarily wheat and corn. The weakened global economic outlook has led to a decline in global beer consumption with a consequent impact on malt and malting barley consumption. France remains the highest-priced source, although trending downward, and Australia is the lowest-cost source, with Canada and Argentina in between. Lower global demand offset lower winter barley production in Europe. Malthouses have sufficient stocks and feed demand is limited, making lower production and low final stocks expected to go unnoticed. Today, the focus is on the completion of the Southern Hemisphere (Argentina and Australia) harvest, which appears to be on schedule. and in the sowing of European barley for 2025 with a possible reduction in surface area. From a commercial point of view, the ...