Lithuania
Barley harvesting is finished and about 20-25 % of malting will be downgraded to feed quality because of high proteins and rain damages.
Average results of samples received:
Protein 11.6%;
Screenings above 2.5 mm 89.9%
Germination 96.1%
Lithuania will not be self sufficient with crop11- the shortage is expected to be about 20000 MT.

Finland
Estimated 80-90 % of the total barley is harvested. In the south of Finland (malting barley areas) the figure is even higher.
Average yield for the barley is estimated to be 3400 kilos per ha.
Estimated quantity of malting barley will be 300-310 000 tons. Due to low screenings and high protein levels acceptance percentage for the malting barley will be around 60 %.
Finland will be self sufficient with malting barley and there is also a surplus volume to be exported if the quality is acceptable.

Sweden
Harvest in general is proceeding very slowly. Harvest normally starts at first in the south and then moves north. This year harvest of malting barley started at the same time in the whole country and harvest is still going on in both parts of the country. Most regions in the grain producing part of Sweden had 150-200% of normal rainfall during august. The South and West of Sweden have had difficult weather conditions since early august while the Eastern and Northern part of the grain producing area had quite good weather conditions during first half august. Barley still standing on the fields have been downgraded to feed. As a consequence there is some concerns about the malting barley quality because of pre-germination has occurred in some fields or more correct in some parts of some fields where it have been problems with lodging or straw breaking. The main actions from the Coops to secure the quality are that they separate deliveries with content of pre-germinated or coloured kernels from barley accepted as malting barley. Our own evaluation of qualities from different regions is proceeding on full speed. Although some volumes will not be accepted as malting barley there will be a surplus when the local demand has been covered. We estimate that the total malting barley harvest will reach 440 – 450 000 tons, the share for different regions on page 3. It is still too early to confirm the final volume of quality malting barley, analyses of pre-samples is ongoing and we will keep you informed on updated
expectations.