CANADA— Canada is importing around 100,000 tonnes of Australian barley this year to make up deficits incurred due to last year’s drought.
World markets have also felt the impact of last year’s drought in Canada, which has reduced its exportable surplus and prompted it to make atypical purchases from Denmark and France as well as Australia to shore up domestic requirements.
Australian shipping stems indicate one cargo was shipped in February, and the second berthed June 9 at the G3 terminal in, Quebec, Canada. The third is currently on its way from the Victorian port of Geelong and includes barley loaded in South Australia.
The sales are part of a remarkable period in global barley trade brought on by changing global barley trade flows. As an example, China is the world’s biggest malting barley importer and since the 1990s, Australia has been one of China’s biggest, if not its biggest, supplier. However, in 2020 China closed the door to Australian barley.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and resulting blockades of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports have come as the latest reshaping of barley trade flows, which were outlined by Ag Scientia principal Lloyd George during an Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre malting barley technical webinar.
“There’s Australian barley heading into Canada now. “Traditionally, we’d never see that; there’s a little bit going into Europe as well,” Mr. George said.
Australian Securities Exchange announcements by the GrainCorp spin-off United Malt Group (UMG) indicate that further Australian cargoes to Canada may be seen.
Available Australian Bureau of Statistics data indicates the 33,000 tonnes of barley shipped to Canada in February, and the second reported cargo in April, also of 33,000 tonnes was feed rather than malting.
However, industry sources are adamant the grain will be malted and will be good-quality BAR1 barley with very little to separate it technically from malting grade.
Drought conditions boost protein to undesirably high levels, so the Australian barley is very
Liked this article? Subscribe to Food Business Africa News, our regular email newsletter with the latest news insights from Africa and the World’s food and agro-industry. SUBSCRIBE HERE.
