Barley exports from Ukraine at a five-year low

Ukraine exported 3.13 MMT of barley in the first half of MY 2018/19, or 18% less than in the same period last season (3.81 MMT). Moreover, this is the smallest volume in five years, reports UkrAgroConsult.

As a reminder, as the country's barley crop has fallen to a six-year low, UkrAgroConsult forecasts its 2018/19 exports down 14%. 

As before, the key destination for Ukrainian barley exports is Saudi Arabia. Despite the overall drop in exports, shipments to this country were up 28% year-on-year at 2.16 MMT.

Exporters managed to boost shipments to Japan to 120 KMT compared with 34 KMT in the whole of MY 2017/18. China, though remaining a major buyer of Ukrainian barley, has reduced purchases almost by half this season, to 380 KMT against 789 KMT in MY 2017/18.

According to UkrAgroConsult’s estimates, Ukraine’s barley export potential has already been 85% realized: it is increasingly difficult to make up even a Handysize consignment.