Chinese demand for malting barley is expected to total 3.9 million metric tons (179 million bushels) in 2011, but Chinese production is projected at just 1.7 million tons (78 million bushels), up from last year’s 1.2 million tons (55 million bushels) but still well below the 3.44 million tons (158 million bushels) China produced in 2008.

U.S. Grains Council Assistant Director in China Sam Niu reports that Chinese farmers lack interest in planting malting barley and often plant it on poorer land because production costs keep increasing and there are no government subsidies. As a result, profitability is lower for barley than for corn or wheat.

China is expected to import 2.2 million tons (101 million bushels) of malting barley this year.