Sunday 27 May 2012
Headlines
Did you find this story interesting? (0) (0)
28/07/2009 07:55:36
Spring hopes for stronger winter malting barley demand
IMPROVED export interest in malt produced from UK spring barley could also bring a welcome benefit for UK winter malting barley, experts are hoping, as domestic end users seek it as an alternative against greater competition for the spring crop.
These are on top of other factors which could see an upturn in demand for malting barley next season, they suggest.
According to Adrian Dyter, commercial director of Greencore Malt, although winter malting barley is supplied to the domestic brewing market, not the export trade, our weaker currency has improved the situation with spring export malt recently. "It’s had a beneficial effect on our competitiveness and made our malt more attractive to overseas buyers," Mr Dyter points out.
As a result, renewed energy is going into the development of export markets, he says. "That, in turn, could help with the demand for winter barley from UK-based brewers." But a good quality crop will still be important for securing markets, he adds.
Robert Hiles, global malting barley business manager for Syngenta Seeds, agrees that export interest in UK spring barley malt could benefit winter barley. A reduction in spring barley plantings in mainland Europe this season could encourage this situation, he notes.
"We hear that spring barley plantings are 10-12% down in Germany, 20% down in Denmark and 5% down in France this year," says Mr Hiles. "These are all similar-sized markets to the UK, at 5-600,000 hectares.
"However it will be important that UK growers are in a strong position to capitalise on any upturn in demand for winter barley – whether it happens this year or next. Grain nitrogen levels will be crucial. So, in a competitive market scrutinise your HGCA Recommended List for varieties which combine low grain nitrogen levels, to help hit buyer specifications, with high yield, to help maximise income. Flagon already fits this bill, but there are also the new candidate HGCA Recommended List varieties of Purdey and Winsome coming through."
Stuart Shand, retail and malting barley director for Gleadell Agriculture, agrees the winter malting barley market looks to be improving – more specifically for crops planted this autumn.
Although beer sales have been hit by the recession, with total sales down by 11%, and growers have been daunted by a lack of barley movement, he says current high malt stocks are expected to ease by the end of 2009, causing prices to pick up after January 2010.
"There’s already a £10 premium for 2010 over 2009, rising to £15/t for October 2010," says Mr Shand. "Although there are very few contracts around at this stage, the signs are much more encouraging."
Of the 534,778t of winter barley purchased by maltsters in 2008, Mr Shand says some 47% 2008 was in Pearl, with Flagon accounting for 33% of the total and Cassata 8%.
Also newcomer Purdey looks very good, he says, having already attracted interest from maltsters, and appears suitable for Scotland as well as England, he adds.
Adrian Dyter of Greencore agrees that the market should be back to a more normal situation by 2010. "We hope the worst is over and we will not see any further reductions in demand," he comments, "in fact beer consumption is reported to have levelled out."
 |
These are on top of other factors which could see an upturn in demand for malting barley next season, they suggest.
According to Adrian Dyter, commercial director of Greencore Malt, although winter malting barley is supplied to the domestic brewing market, not the export trade, our weaker currency has improved the situation with spring export malt recently. "It’s had a beneficial effect on our competitiveness and made our malt more attractive to overseas buyers," Mr Dyter points out.
As a result, renewed energy is going into the development of export markets, he says. "That, in turn, could help with the demand for winter barley from UK-based brewers." But a good quality crop will still be important for securing markets, he adds.
Robert Hiles, global malting barley business manager for Syngenta Seeds, agrees that export interest in UK spring barley malt could benefit winter barley. A reduction in spring barley plantings in mainland Europe this season could encourage this situation, he notes.
"We hear that spring barley plantings are 10-12% down in Germany, 20% down in Denmark and 5% down in France this year," says Mr Hiles. "These are all similar-sized markets to the UK, at 5-600,000 hectares.
"However it will be important that UK growers are in a strong position to capitalise on any upturn in demand for winter barley – whether it happens this year or next. Grain nitrogen levels will be crucial. So, in a competitive market scrutinise your HGCA Recommended List for varieties which combine low grain nitrogen levels, to help hit buyer specifications, with high yield, to help maximise income. Flagon already fits this bill, but there are also the new candidate HGCA Recommended List varieties of Purdey and Winsome coming through."
Stuart Shand, retail and malting barley director for Gleadell Agriculture, agrees the winter malting barley market looks to be improving – more specifically for crops planted this autumn.
Although beer sales have been hit by the recession, with total sales down by 11%, and growers have been daunted by a lack of barley movement, he says current high malt stocks are expected to ease by the end of 2009, causing prices to pick up after January 2010.
"There’s already a £10 premium for 2010 over 2009, rising to £15/t for October 2010," says Mr Shand. "Although there are very few contracts around at this stage, the signs are much more encouraging."
Of the 534,778t of winter barley purchased by maltsters in 2008, Mr Shand says some 47% 2008 was in Pearl, with Flagon accounting for 33% of the total and Cassata 8%.
Also newcomer Purdey looks very good, he says, having already attracted interest from maltsters, and appears suitable for Scotland as well as England, he adds.
Adrian Dyter of Greencore agrees that the market should be back to a more normal situation by 2010. "We hope the worst is over and we will not see any further reductions in demand," he comments, "in fact beer consumption is reported to have levelled out."
No Comments
Nobody has posted any comments on this story.
|
Farming items for Sale
|
JOHN DEERE 6210 Powerquad - North Tiverton(GBP 19950)
Ford 5030 Turbo, 2wd - Ballyclare(GBP 9600)
McCormick XTX165 - Spalding(GBP 46000)
John Deere 7930 - DAVENTRY
(Price on Application)
(Price on Application)
John Deere - 6630P TRACTOR 2008 - Norwich(GBP 36250)
Related News
Consider spring malting barley as alternative to wheat - 24 Oct 2007Growers confident of achieving a full malting specification may be better off switching from late drilled winter wheat to a leading spring malting bar...
High fuel and fertiliser costs could favour spring barley over late-drilled winter wheat - 06 Oct 2005THINK twice before continuing to drill winter wheat regardless as we head towards the end of the year, growers are being urged. Ordinarily, switchi...
Spring barley demands vigilance following recent rain - 17 Apr 2012Growers are being urged of the need for vigilance in this season’s spring barley to ensure a timely start of post-emergence weed control strateg...
High risk of BYDV in early drilled winter barley and winter wheat - 23 Sep 2009Winter barley and winter wheat growers should be expecting a high risk season for BYDV, linked to the warm climatic conditions this summer, the many e...
PGRO announces new 2010 pulse recommended lists for spring peas, spring beans and winter beans - 29 Nov 2009The new 2010 Recommended Lists for spring peas, spring beans and winter beans were announced today (27 November) at a press briefing held at the PGRO ...
High lodging risk in winter wheat and winter barley - 20 Mar 2012Thick forward cereal crops this Spring are at high risk from both root and stem lodging making growth regulators essential, according to ProCam UK Agr...
Work together now or face a declining UK malting barley industry - 03 Mar 2004The malting barley chain from grower to brewer needs to start working together now if the UK industry is to survive says a leading national malting ba...
Cassata brings sweet taste of success to Essex malting barley grower - 04 Sep 2007After a recent break from growing winter malting barley, Essex arable farmer Robin Bartleet reports that he harvested one of his best ever winter barl...
Keep malting barley crops cool - 28 Dec 2007MALTING barley growers are being advised to keep stored crops cool over the festive period to protect quality. With fusarium, high nitrogen ...
Malting Barley report from Gleadell - 08 Aug 2008MALTING BARLEY by Stuart Shand, sales director Stuart Shand, sales director, Gleadell Agriculture reports: "The EU harvest continues with France cl...
