Why is Saudi Arabia reducing feed barley imports?

Saudi Arabia (SA), one of the world's largest buyers of feed barley, is reducing its imports and switching to alternative feeds. The intention to ban the cultivation of alfalfa, which was the main component in the feed mixture with barley, will lead to increased demand for corn. Grain Brokers Australia analyst Peter McMeekin talks about trends in the feed barley market. According to USDA, barley imports, which amounted to 10.4 million tons in 2015/16 MY, in 2020/21 MY – 6.1 million tons, in 2022/23 MY – 3.1 million tons, in 2023/24 MY – 2.6 million tons, decreased in 2024/25 MY to 2.2 million tons. This may be due to the absence of Australian barley on the market after increased demand from China due to the abolition of tariffs. In 2023/24 MY, almost 74% of Saudi Arabia’s barley imports came from the Russian Federation, 10% from Australia, 9% from the EU and 7% from Ukraine. The share of Australian barley in the SA market in 2022/23 MY was 53%, in 2021/22 MY – over 63%. The ...