UK agricultural output price index: malting barley
UK agricultural output price index: malting barley stood at 116.04 in Jul 2026, according to GOV.UK official statistics. It is one of the indicators in the Agricultural prices table (Value · Monthly), with a complete series running from Jan 2014 to Jul 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Agricultural prices table
| Indicator | 07-2026 | 06-2026 | 05-2026 | 04-2026 | 03-2026 | 02-2026 | 01-2026 | 12-2025 | 11-2025 | 10-2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Output price index | |||||||||||
| Barley, malting | 116.04 | 113.91 | 115.07 | 114.49 | 114.26 | 115.01 | 115.58 | 112.3 | 111.99 | 112.37 | |
| Green beans | 164.71 | 191.86 | 138.11 | 101.06 | 103.91 |
Understanding UK agricultural output price index: malting barley
Grain harvest valuations for malting barley across the United Kingdom record the average prices obtained by cereal growers for grain meeting specific brewing and distilling specifications. This index isolates grain intended for fermentation, separating it from feed barley and milling wheat measures found elsewhere in the agricultural price tables. Inclusions cover initial merchant transactions meeting nitrogen and germinative capacity thresholds, while feed-grade grain and grain retained on-farm for livestock consumption are excluded.
Analysing these figures demands caution regarding harvest seasonality, where post-harvest supply gluts contrast with tight end-of-season holdings. Initial monthly estimates are subject to revision as quality testing results are finalised across merchant networks. Year-on-year comparisons offer a clearer view of underlying price direction by bypassing annual harvest timing shifts. Users must not compare malting barley directly with feed barley, as brewing specifications introduce strict quality premiums that diverge from livestock feed pricing dynamics.
Frequently asked questions
- What specific quality criteria distinguish malting barley from feed barley in this index?
- Malting barley pricing requires meeting strict nitrogen content and germinative capacity thresholds demanded by the brewing and distilling sectors.
- Are on-farm grain transactions captured in this series?
- No, the measure focuses solely on marketed grain sold off-farm to merchants and processors.
- How do revisions affect early monthly figures for malting barley?
- Initial estimates are frequently adjusted as laboratory quality test results and merchant settlements are fully processed.