Barley prices in Ukraine are falling rapidly under the pressure of the new harvest

Purchase prices for barley in Ukraine have dropped significantly in the past two weeks amid weak export demand, active competition from Russia, and the start of mass sales of new crop grain. This was told to Latifundist.com by Kostiantyn Halakhandryk, co-founder of the brokerage company White Brokers.

According to him, prices for barley without Chinese certification on DAP-port terms have decreased from UAH 10.2 thousand/t to UAH 9.2 thousand/t. Barley with Chinese documents has fallen in price from $205 to $192–194/t.

The broker calls the main reason for the price drop weak demand from end buyers on CIF and FOB terms.

“There are individual buyers, but they are trying to push Ukrainian sellers out quite seriously,” Halakhandryk noted.

Additional pressure on the market, according to him, is exerted by active exports of Russian grain, which increases competition in the traditional markets for barley and wheat for Ukraine. At the same time, demand from China remains weak and is currently unable to support prices.

Halakhandryk also predicts a pronounced harvest pressure effect in the 2026 season. Due to hot weather, barley harvesting in different regions of Ukraine will take place almost simultaneously, which will lead to a sharp increase in grain supply on the market.

Additionally, prices are restrained by the lack of significant volumes of forward contracts with delivery in July among traders. According to the broker, after last year’s experience, companies were in no hurry to conclude early forwards, so now they do not need to actively compete for the grain of the new harvest.

“The trader is not burning, there are no contracts for July, there is no point in raising the price, so you can keep the price relatively low so that the farmer sells more actively,” he explained.

Tags: Ukraine, barley, prices