News Capsule: India Barley Outlook: Limited Production Growth Amid Steady Demand
06-Apr-2026 03:36 PM
News Capsule: India Barley Outlook: Limited Production Growth Amid Steady Demand
★ In recent years, India’s barley balance sheet indicates a relatively stable trend with gradual growth, where both production and demand are increasing steadily.
★ From 2021-22 to 2025-26, barley production has risen from around 16.5 million tonnes to about 18.6 million tonnes. Although this growth is not as rapid as maize, it reflects consistent improvement.
★ Barley demand is primarily driven by the malting industry (beer and alcohol), animal feed, and food consumption. With steady demand from these sectors, consumption has also increased from around 17 million tonnes to nearly 21 million tonnes.
★ However, as consumption is rising faster than production:
★ Imports have increased (from 0.48 to 2.5 million tonnes)
★ Stock levels remain limited
★ The market is witnessing a tightening supply situation
★ Looking ahead, barley production is expected to see moderate growth, supported by stable demand from the malting industry, continued use in the feed sector, and gradually increasing industrial consumption.
★ India’s barley market is currently in a balanced but tight supply situation, where demand is slightly outpacing production. While output is rising gradually, increasing consumption will keep imports and stock management crucial going forward.