Barley — Commodity Intelligence

Barley

Barley (~150 MMT, $35B+) is the world's most cold/drought-tolerant major cereal - grown where wheat struggles. Two structurally separate markets: feed barley (70% of use, commodity-priced) and malting barley (25%, premium quality-segmented). Australia is the world's largest exporter (8-10 MMT, mostly to China for feed). Canada dominates premium malting barley exports. China is the largest single importer. Two-row spring barley = malting standard; six-row = feed. Key dynamic 2020-23: China imposed 80%+ tariffs on Australian barley over dumping claims, diverted 4-6 MMT, dispute resolved 2023. No dominant global futures contract - ICE Winnipeg + Euronext OTC + bilateral spot. Australian crop variability is the single largest swing factor in global malting supply.