Barley prices in Ukraine are falling again as exporters and processors have purchased the required volumes

The barley harvest in Ukraine and the EU has been completed, and it turned out to be at the level of forecasts, but the better-than-expected quality of malting barley is increasing pressure on prices.

As of August 29, 2025, 5.16 million tons of barley (winter and spring) were threshed from 1.343 million hectares or 97% of the area in Ukraine with a yield of 3.84 tons/hectare, which will allow obtaining the projected 5.2-5.3 million tons.

Last week, export prices for barley in Ukraine rose to maximum levels of 10,400-10,450 UAH/t, but on Monday they decreased to 10,300-10,350 UAH/t or $215-217/t (unchanged for the week) for delivery to Black Sea ports, as traders purchased the necessary batches for export. Feed barley prices are being pressured by a decline in food wheat prices to $217-220/t and feed wheat to $200-206/t.

In the MY 2025/26 (as of August 29), Ukraine exported 562 thousand tons, which is almost half the corresponding figure last year (1.09 million tons).

Demand for malting barley from malting plants is declining, as active purchases of quality barley from farmers have led to a shortage of free warehouses, which has stopped the receipt of raw materials.

Demand prices for malting barley have decreased to the level of 10,400-10,500 UAH/t with delivery to the plant, while some contracts provide for delivery only in October or November.

The list of companies that can export barley from Ukraine to China has been updated on the website of the State Service for Food and Consumer Protection. It is formed in accordance with phytosanitary protocols agreed between the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China.

Demand for Ukrainian barley from China significantly supported prices in July, but export demand is now declining in anticipation of a high feed corn harvest.