Barley: Overview
Beer, whisky or feed: where barley goes
What this tab covers What the commodity is used for, why, in what volumes and with what alternatives, and its chain from mine or field to end user. Also the latest price moves, top recent news, three things to know, and buttons into each tab.Key uses
| Use | Share | Annual volume | Why this commodity | Alternatives |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Animal feed (cattle, sheep, camels, pigs, poultry) | 69% | about 104.6 Mt a yearbasis | Barley grows where maize does not: cool, dry and short-season lands from the Black Sea to Australia and the Middle East. It is cheaper than wheat and rich in energy and fibre, which suits ruminants. Saudi Arabia, China, Iran and Turkey import it in bulk for livestock; Saudi feed use alone was 4.9 Mt in 2025/26 (USDA). USDA PSD (Oct 2026) | Maize (main global feed grain) Feed wheat Sorghum Oats and triticale |
| Malting for beer | n/a | n/a basis | Malting barley has husks that filter the mash, high starch, and enzymes that turn starch into sugar when the grain germinates. That combination makes it the standard brewing grain. Only plump, low-protein grain with high germination earns the malting premium. USDA PSD (Oct 2026); inside.beer (Dec 2025) | Wheat malt (wheat beers) Rice, maize grits and sugar as adjuncts (partial) Sorghum malt (gluten-free and African beers) |
| Malting for whisky and other spirits | n/a | n/a basis | Malt whisky must by law be made from malted barley in Scotland, and barley malt is the main enzyme source for grain whisky. India's whisky makers also use barley malt. USDA PSD (Oct 2026) | Maize and wheat (grain whisky, bourbon) with some malt for enzymes Industrial enzymes |
| Food (pearled barley, flour, flakes, sattu, tsampa) | n/a | n/a basis | Barley is a staple food in highland Ethiopia, Tibet, Morocco and parts of India, where it tolerates altitude, cold and poor soils. It is valued for beta-glucan fibre. USDA PSD (Oct 2026) | Wheat Oats Millets and sorghum |
| Seed for the next crop | n/a | n/a basis | Farmers keep or buy seed for about 44 Mha of barley each year (USDA PSD 2025/26 harvested area). Malting varieties are often grown under contract with certified seed. USDA PSD (Oct 2026) | None for planting |
From field to user
- 1. Sowing Winter barley is sown in autumn (Europe; India's rabi crop), spring barley in spring (Canada, Russia, northern Europe). World harvested area was about 44.4 Mha in 2025/26 (USDA).
- 2. Growing and harvest Barley matures faster than wheat and is combine-harvested. Yields range from 1.2 t/ha in Morocco to 6.1 t/ha in the UK (USDA, 2025/26).
- 3. Grading and storage Grain is tested for protein, plumpness and germination. Malting-grade lots go to maltsters at a premium; the rest is sold as feed. World ending stocks were about 20.6 Mt in 2025/26 (USDA).
- 4. Export logistics Australia, the EU, Russia, Argentina, Canada and Ukraine ship in bulk. World exports were about 37 Mt in 2025/26; Australia exported 11.5 Mt and the EU 9.4 Mt (USDA).
- 5. Malting Maltsters steep, germinate and kiln the grain. The UB-Soufflet Rajasthan plant will source up to 250 kt of barley a year at full build-out, starting with 110 kt of malt capacity in phase one (inside.beer, Feb 2026).
- 6. Feed milling Feed barley is rolled or ground into rations. China used 12.2 Mt and Saudi Arabia 4.9 Mt as feed in 2025/26, almost all imported (USDA).
- 7. End users Brewers and distillers buy malt on annual contracts; livestock farms buy feed grain or compound feed.
Price movement snapshot 2026-10-25
Barley (World Bank monthly) 80.4 $/mt Month 2020-08 1 week no daily price 6 months -30.0% World production 142.0 m tonnes, 2024 Largest producer Russia 11.74% of worldThree things to know
- World barley output was 142.0 Mt in 2024, still below the 179.1 Mt harvested in 1990 (FAOSTAT).
- During the 2008 food crisis Saudi Arabia, then the largest barley importer, worried about feeding its camels (Blas & Farchy); by 2024 China took 39.9% of world imports (Comtrade).
- In 1974 the five big grain merchants handled 90% of Canada's barley exports (Morgan).
Top recent news snapshot 2026-10-25, last 30 days
- Why you should seriously consider adding Barley water to your morning routineThe Times of India · 2026-09-26
- England records worst harvest in 42 years as extreme summer weather hits cropsDown To Earth · 2026-10-21
- Kenyan farmers embracing barleyWorld Grain · 2026-10-12
- The world needs Ukraine’s grain. Its farmers are running out of reasons to plantCNBC · 2026-10-10
- Cabinet hikes MSP for rabi crops, sets aside Rs 91,000 crore; safflower sees biggest riseMoneycontrol.com · 2026-09-30