Malting barley premium returns to historical average in the UK: Grain market daily

Sign up to receive the Weekly Market Report and Grain Market Daily from AHDB. The malting barley premium has continued to come under pressure since it was last reported in September, falling back from the highs seen last year. Ample supply and relatively weaker demand are both key factors weighing on the premium this marketing year. On Monday, the latest Corn Returns reported ex-farm premium malting barley for spot delivery at £175.40/t, while ex-farm feed barley was reported at £153.10/t, offering a premium of £22.30/t. This is starkly lower than last year, where the malting barley premium for October delivery was £71.25/t on average. However, 2023 was an exceptional year, the current premium is more of a return to the historical average as opposed to being historically low. The release of the English and Scottish cereal production figures confirmed expectations of a larger spring barley crop, both reported greater than their five-year average by 3% and 7% respectively. The UK’s ...