Chinese demand for Ukrainian barley has decreased, leading to a decrease in export rates, as China has stopped buying grain from abroad to support local producers. This raises concerns about Ukraine's ability to compete with Australia in the market. Despite this, barley prices have not seen significant changes, and farmers are withholding sales in anticipation of better prices. Ukraine still needs to export about 1.4 million tons of barley in the 2024/25 marketing year, and there is speculation that farmers may hold some barley back for the second half of the season.