FARM ONLINE | Aussie malt barley sector unlocks largest new market option in 30 years

The new market for Australian barley into Latin America is a significant win for the industry according to grains industry leaders.

This is the first new market for Australian malt barley since China developed in the 1990s and opened the doors for other buyers around that region.

Farm Online outlined the growth of the market since 2021 and the hopes that the markets in Brazil and Colombia could be in the near future.

The Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre reported Latin America represents a malt barley market of up to 1.5 million tonnes.

Grain Producers Australia Research, Development and Extension Spokesperson Andrew Weidemann said this was a great success story for Australia's supply chains.

"Firstly, credit has to go to the Australian breeders for developing varieties that fulfill the needs of customers," Mr Weidemann said.

"Secondly, organisations such as AEGIC and Grains Australia, with their technical information and market development work, have done a fantastic job in highlighting to customers in Mexico the advantages of using Australian malt barley varieties.

"Lastly, our growers are producing a quality, low-moisture product that is what the customers want.

"It is a great story of the industry as a whole working together and a great advertisement for the use of Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) levies to help fund Grains Australia and AEGIC."

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