Total exports of grains and oilseeds are forecast to decline slightly, to 27.7 Mt in 2000-01. Exports of durum, barley, canola, flaxseed and soybeans are expected to increase, while exports of spring wheat and oats are forecast to decrease from 1999-00. Average prices for spring wheat, coarse grains, malting barley and flaxseed are expected to rise. Prices for durum are expected to be similar to 1999-00, while canola and soybean prices are expected to fall. Although EU domestic subsidies remain high, to-date it has not used export subsidies for wheat and barley but has granted subsidies on oats.
Domestic use is forecast to remain at an historically high level.
Domestic feed use is forecast to increase, with a larger than normal proportion of the crop expected to be in the lower grades, due to sprouting. Domestic feed barley use is expected to be higher than in 1999-00, partly due to lower corn use in western Canada. Livestock numbers in western Canada are forecast to increase late in the year. Feed barley exports are expected to increase. Increased competition in the malting barley market from Australia, due to increased supplies, is expected to be partly offset by reduced competition from the EU where the quality of the crop fell because of wet harvest conditions.