Wheat firmer, barley at a discount – HGCA

UK delivered markets traded firmer after the Christmas and New Year break.

Delivered feed wheat prices were around 2 higher than pre-Christmas levels. Bread wheat prices were as much as 4 higher.

Liverpool traded in the low- to mid-90s/t delivered, while new-crop reached 101/t on continued delay to planting the 2001 crop.

No significant trade news was reported on the delivered barley market.

Prices in general were reportedly helped higher by a combination of reasonable domestic demand and the Euro gaining around 1p on Sterling, trading at close to 63.5p. Mid-June 2000 was the last time the Euro was so strong.

Final English June Census data, released end-December, estimate the wheat area at 1.957 million ha, down 6000ha on the provisional estimate.

Winter and spring barley were both revised down 6000ha to 511,000ha and 241,000ha respectively. The total cereal area was cut by 19,000ha to 2.811m
ha.

Revised production estimates will be published towards the end of January, once final June figures are available for the other UK regions.

GB retail compounders wheat usage during November 2000 recorded the first month-on-last-season rise (up 3%) since August 1999.

Maltsters barley usage was up 11% on November 99, following a 7% reduction last month. Cumulative maltsters barley usage is now 1% up on last season at end-November.

Cumulative end-November wheat usage by millers is little changed on last season, at 2.39m tonnes.