This week’s U.S. Grains Council’s (USGC’s) Chart of Note illustrates the top three U.S. barley markets for the 2014/2015 marketing year that ran from June 1, 2014 to May 31, 2015.

Japan was the largest market for U.S. barley during that period, importing 99,100 metric tons (4.2 million bushels). In this market, the Council has been actively promoting the heart-healthy qualities of foods containing U.S. barley to Japanese consumers on the basis of U.S. research showing that these foods may lower cholesterol. Since Japanese consumers are among the world’s most health conscious, they have been an attentive audience, which has led to a steadily increasing consumption of barley-based products. 

The second largest market for U.S. barley was Morocco, which imported 27,500 tons (1.1 million bushels). This is an increase from last year when Morocco purchased almost no U.S. barley.

Rounding out the top three markets was Taiwan. In part due to Taiwan’s health conscious consumers, the Council estimates that Taiwan has the potential to use 150,000 to 250,000 tons (6.9 to 11.5 million bushels) of food barley annually. Taiwan imported 14,700 tons (733,900 bushels) of U.S. barley in the most recent marketing year, showing significant additional potential for barley exports to the country.