EU barley exports hit six-year high

EU barley exports this marketing season reached their highest in six years amid rising demand from China, Turkey and Jordan.

The EU-27 exported some 4.12mn t of barley on 1 July-28 November, provisional data from the European Commission show. This was up from 3.43mn t a year earlier and 3.62mn t in 2019-20 (see chart).

Shipments were higher despite partial reporting from France — one of the EU’s largest exporters of crop.

Exports rose as China, Turkey and Jordan have stepped up receipts of crop, more than offsetting lower deliveries to Saudi Arabia and Algeria.

Some 1.61mn t was exported to China this year, up from 1.31mn t a year earlier. Shipments to China accounted for 39pc of the total, broadly unchanged on the year.

But exports to Jordan rose by more than five times to 412,000t this year, accounting for 10pc of total shipments. And exports to Turkey totalled 332,500t up from just 29,000t last year.

China has stepped up its barley imports this year as rapidly rising wheat prices globally have prompted its buyers to seek alternative grains. Persisting drought conditions across much of the east Mediterranean and the Middle East weighed on domestic barley production in Turkey and Jordan, further supporting imports.

France exported the most barley this season, having shipped 1.75mn t since July, according to partial data. France was followed by Romania at 1.48mn t and Germany at 507,000t.

Argus

Tags: EU, export, barley