24/07/2010
Saudis see barley imports inching down 2.6 pct
Saudi Arabia expects its barley imports to decline 2.6 percent in the 12 months to July 2011, in line with an expected drop in global trade in the commodity, its trade and industry ministry said.
Saudi Arabia is the world's biggest importer of barley. Its imports in the 12 months to July 2010 stood at 7.7 million tonnes, the ministry said in a report issued late on Friday on its website.
"It is expected that the international trade in barley will stand at 16.5 million tonnes over the July 2010-2011 period, a decline of 0.5 million tonnes from 2009," it said:"Saudi Arabia's imports are set to decline from 7.7 million tonnes to 7.5 million tonnes." (Reuters)
