UK malting barley prices reach historically high levels

Prices for malting barley in the UK are at historically high levels, the country's Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) confirmed, reported online publication Agriland on November 7. Back in early October, total barley availability was estimated at 8.336 million tonnes, down 101 thousand tonnes from last year. This was due to a smaller harvest. Total barley stocks were also down slightly from the previous five-year average of 8.595 million tonnes, according to the AHDB. In addition, the recently published results of a study on grain quality in the UK confirmed the lower specific gravity of grain. Analysts expect that the global availability of malting barley will also be more limited this season. Total global barley production in 2023/2024 is forecast to be the lowest since the 2018/2019 season, and global ending stocks are projected to be the lowest since the early 1980s. As in the UK, quality is an issue in other countries as wet weather in Europe early in ...