The CWB has an agreement to supply 0.2 Mt of feed barley to the Japanese Food Agency. This is a significant decline from recent years. The Middle East and North Africa are expected to import a total of 9.2 Mt in 1999-00 or about 75 percent of world feed barley imports. Over 40 percent of consumption in this region is imported. Barley is the preferred feed for sheep, goats and camels.
Sheep are able to utilize whole barley rather than processed barley, which facilitates distribution.
Further, barley has a higher fibre content than corn. In addition, Middle East consumers prefer meat produced with barley. Regional barley supplies are projected to decrease by about 10 percent. Imports are not expected to increase, but to be maintained at last year's record level due to a decrease in consumption. Japan has introduced a simultaneous buy-sell policy for the purchase of a portion of Japanese feed barley requirements.