Strong export demand drives up feed barley prices in Europe

Strong demand for exports has driven feed barley prices in Europe, which have reached and even surpassed those of bread wheat, experts commented, citing international news agencies. Usually, feed barley sells at a significant discount compared to bread wheat, and during this season, the grain sector has been subject to oversupply, and grain prices in general have fallen due to significant global stocks. However, barley supply in the European Union has shrunk despite the growth in this year's harvest. The reasons are active shipments from France to China and Saudi Arabia, mass withholding of sales by farmers, and Turkey's transformation from a net exporter to a net importer following the country's poor harvest. A German trader said, "Currently, barley is like gold." Traders point out that feed barley prices in the western part of the EU and the Baltic republics have equaled those of wheat, holding at a level of 221-226 dollars per ton FOB with delivery in December. Barley from the ...