Barley: Harvest looms on the horizon
June 7, 2018 at 2:13 PM ,
Starry Night Ltd.
BULGARIA. According to local authorities, by the end of May 2018, nationwide Spring barley’s planting campaigns nailed 2,749 ha, which on a yearly basis stood by 38.2% less. However, the current result is not so much a consequence of a belated sowing campaign – unfavourable weather conditions prevented farmers from entering fields on time in order to plant the crop – but because farmers have decided to cultivate less of the grain for the upcoming season. International rivalry, weaker and diminishing in magnitude domestic demand for the grain by the livestock sector over the years, and low prices are the main reasons for such a strategic decision. Whether the deliberate cut in supply will push prices on the demand side remains to be seen.
Barley: Soon, combines enter the fields
Within a two weeks’ period, farmers enter fields to collect barley. The market unfailingly expects a cut in aggregate production since farmers did purposefully reduce the scope of their planting strategies for the upcoming harvest. However, since weather conditions have not been favourable in all regions throughout the country, some farmers’ anxieties of a lesser expected yield have not yet eased. After all, there is not much time left before harvest 2018-19 begins for a major change to occur and change the directions of a settled wind of worries.
|
Harvest 2017-18 (01.07.2017 - 01.06.2018) units in MT |
|
|
Beginning availability |
22,000 |
|
Aggregate output |
599,457 |
|
Imports |
5,314 |
|
Domestic consumption |
303,000 |
|
beer production |
69,500 |
|
feed |
203,500 |
|
seeds |
30,000 |
|
Exports to the world |
311,828 |
|
to EU markets |
259,432 |
|
to rest of the world |
52,396 |
Source: Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture
In the dusk of marketing season 2017-18, exports to EU markets have been surprisingly strong, on the background of the rivalry within the region. By the 1st of June 2018, shipped volume to EU markets reached 259,432 mt, which represents an increase of 11.67% from those of last year. As in the case with wheat, exports of barley to third world countries have been slow. By the end of last year, according to local authorities, sent quantities of barley to non-EU markets amounted to just 52,396 mt while those of last year by this time reached 141,485 mt or by close to 63% more. Remaining stocks amount to 11,943 mt. All eyes are on the upcoming harvest now.
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