Lots of good spring barley harvested in Europe
Unlike last year, the cultivation of spring barley in Europe has been expanded considerably in 2012. Besides in the most European countries good qualities were harvested. The supply with spring barley is much bigger than the demand of the processing plants.
Not all regional producers are satisfied with the harvest. However, there also is the talk of very good results. French participants of the market report a record production with acceptable protein levels and good screening. A similar picture is also available for most regions of Germany. Very good qualities were also harvested in Denmark. High yields and low protein values denote the results in the neighboring country in the north. In Finland, however, the harvest still continues. They started with a delay.
Producers in the UK have not completed their work as well. In Scotland still 40 percent of the fields are to vacate, in England and Wales 30 percent. On the island, the satisfaction to qualities and yields is more heterogeneous than in other countries. There is hardly a unified picture of the results. Especially in Scotland, there is talk of low yields, which may fall to 2.5 t/ha. In the South of the island as well, low yields and a week screening are significant for this harvest. Hurts of the glumes exist. In the East of the country the best results are registered. The harvest on the island is below average. Ireland also reports low yields compared to last year. There will be no surplus. Contracts are traded back.
In the Netherlands there is the talk of higher yields and better quality than in the previous year.
The harvest in Austria was very weak. Massive drought in the main growing areas has led to below-average results. Only a small portion of the crop meets the usual quality criteria for screening and protein.
There is talk of low yields of around 20 percent in Slovakia. There are also high protein values. The harvest in 2011 is estimated much better despite a smaller area.
In the Czech Republic, this year’s harvest is expected to be weaker because of the higher protein content and general quality.
Poor quality due to high protein content and low screening characterize the harvest in Hungary.
From Poland, however, good qualities and a slightly better yield compared to last year is again reported. Fusarium occurs in some countries, but so far seems not to exceed the critical limits.
A surplus of spring barley essentially is delivered from France and Denmark. The import demand of Germany will drop to 300,000 to 500,000 t. In other years there was a demand of 800,000 to 1.0 mio t. Denmark can deliver. The Southeast of Europe and Austria could receive required goods from Germany and France.
Around 30 mio t of spring barley will approximately be harvested in the EU this year.
In contrast, there is a requirement of the malting plants of about 10.0 to 10.5 mio t malting barley. Despite the heavy supply of summer- and malting barley and good qualities in most of Europe, prices remain firmly tuned. The stable prices for wheat and corn and feed barley are particularly crucial for the pricing of spring barley. The preparation for malting barley for a surcharge of only 10.00 to 15.00 EUR / t is too expensive. The demand for feed barley in the EU and on world markets remains. A relief of the southern hemisphere is not expected.
The capacity utilization of malting plants in Europe at the moment is rated as good despite large differences. An important requirement, however, is the possible export of malt. The retrievals of the processing plants are present. Due to the scarce supply from the previous year, new crop is already processed. The brewers, however, are quite differently stocked. For the calendar year 2013, according to estimates by market participants, more efforts are needed. The prices franco Upper Rhine for spring barley are currently for October / December at EUR 257.00/t to EUR 258.00/t. For Denmark, the rates are at EUR 245.00/t.
For the upcoming year, a much smaller area is expected.
