Planting of the new crop malting barley was delayed due to the ongoing cold conditions in Europe. As a result many areas were past their optimum planting moment, implying that record yields such as seen during the last two crops will no longer be possible. In the past two weeks, farmers were finally able to go into the fields and progress was made. Spring conditions are now required in the Northern regions to start planting there as well.

Demand for crop 2010 malting barley will be less than in normal years however, due to large carry-over stocks of the current crop and reduced malting capacity utilisation, as a result of the sluggish beer consumption situation in several parts of the world. The malting barley area reductions in favour of wheat and other crops, will not be sufficient to compensate for that.

Once planting has been completed, the market will focus on the weather conditions. This could lead to volatility, also considering farmers are rejecting the current low prices, leaving the market with little to no coverage.