Black Sea & Danube Barley Market at a Turning Point: Demand Pressure and Regional Rebalancing

UkrAgroConsult

Barley markets in the Black Sea and Danube region entered mid-February under growing demand pressure and increasingly uneven regional balances. Active tender activity from MENA countries, combined with tighter availability from some origins, has reshaped trade flows and pricing logic. According to UkrAgroConsult, current market behavior is driven less by harvest factors and more by logistics execution and buyer timing.

Romania remains a central supplier for regional and overseas demand. After an exceptionally strong export pace earlier in the season, shipment intensity moderated, while cumulative exports reached about 2.0 mln tonnes. Jordan and Turkey strengthened their positions among key buyers, supporting prices close to seasonal highs and reinforcing Romania’s role as a reference origin in the region.

Bulgaria continues to demonstrate high competitiveness in international tenders. Recent contracts confirmed the ability of Bulgarian barley to secure demand despite rising freight risks. At the same time, strong domestic consumption, estimated at around 360 thousand tonnes so far this season, limits export flexibility and supports internal price stability.

russia remains active on the tender market, often competing aggressively on price but facing logistical constraints. Shipment plans toward North Africa and the Middle East increased freight pressure, while changes in export duties redirected additional volumes toward external markets. UkrAgroConsult notes that these country-level dynamics, reflected across comparative tables and price trend visuals, define the current balance of the regional barley market.

Key themes of the article

• Rising demand pressure across the Black Sea and Danube region
• Romania’s role as the main price reference market
• Export competitiveness and domestic demand balance in Bulgaria
• Logistical constraints shaping russian export performance
• Regional rebalancing reflected in trade and price structures

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Tags: export, barley, Romania, prices, Black Sea region, crop forecast, Jordan, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Turkey