Free of charge

Barley: Losing grounds among local farmers

October 27, 2017 at 3:30 PM , Starry Night Ltd.
Play report as audio

SOFIA. The expected decrease in output on an annual basis might not reverberate drastically throughout foreign market positions.

BULGARIA. Last year, the country’s aggregate output reached 689,850 mt while this year, national production was estimated at 619,812 mt. The reason for the decline was lower planted acreages – close to 20%.

Throughout the recent years, many farmers have shifted their cultivation focus from heavily relying on barley to investing in other grains such as rapeseed. The latter crop allows farmers to realize a higher margin since the greater majority of it is exported.

Barley: Expected decrease in output on an annual basis

By the 19th of October 2017, sowed acreages of barley reached 63,774 mt; the number is by 8.2% lower than that of last year at that time. The country expects planted acreages this year to be lower. Apparently, barley is losing favor among local farmers. Tough regional competition, low prices, slower unloading of reserves (higher carry-overs) are strong reasons for farmers to refocus their cultivation strategies.

Harvest 2017-18

(01.07.2017 - 20.10.2017)

Beg.availability, incl. carry over & imports

  655,451  mt

Domestic consumption

96,000 mt

Exports to the world

219,049 mt

   to EU markets

201,832 mt

   to rest of the world

17,217 mt

Source: Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture

Last year, exports reached 373,796 mt, as 62.15% of shipped volumes abroad went to EU markets. This year’s exports slowed down recently, as projections are for the same to remain weak throughout the current marketing season.

A drastic cut of output by 10%, for instance, for the next year will not result in a substantial, if any, loss of foreign market positions since it is the price and not the quantities produced that influence local market sentiments, and subsequently shipped volumes abroad. In the end of harvest, according to local farmers, this year’s quality characteristics of barley were higher than those of last year.

View related articles

Go to the News Overview
Grains
Jun 12, 2025
LIMA/SUCRE. Contrary to expectations, the result of the Peruvian crop was sobering. This is also driving up prices in Bolivia. On the Indian market, however, prices have fallen in recent weeks.
Grains
Jun 3, 2025
BRUSSELS/DALIAN. EU imports have declined by a shocking 40%. Enthusiasm for millet is low in China.
Grains
Jun 2, 2025
DALIAN/BRUSSELS. Buckwheat supplies may be low in China, but cheap imports have changed the situation. Sowing is progessing in Ukraine. EU imports have risen sharply.
Organic Commodities
May 22, 2025
BUENOS AIRES/ASUNCIÓN. The early plantings in some South American chia-producing countries had to be reseeded after massive heat damage. However, the stocks of the 2024 crop are nearly depleted.