Top 10 Barley Producing Countries in 2025
Top barley producers in 2025: the countries shaping feed, malt, and grain markets
Barley sits at the intersection of food systems and industrial demand: it is a staple feed grain for livestock, a key input for malting (beer and spirits), and an important rotation crop in temperate farming systems. Using the latest internationally comparable crop estimates available today, global barley production for the 2025/26 marketing year is projected at 153.72 million metric tons.
Production leadership is highly concentrated. The top four producers account for about 65.46% of world output, and the top ten account for about 85.14%—a reminder that weather shocks in a handful of regions can ripple through feed costs and malt supply.
Top 10 barley producing countries/regions (MY 2025/26)
The EU’s scale comes from broad acreage plus strong yields in key grain belts, making it the single largest barley-producing bloc.
Russia’s barley output is large enough to influence export availability and price formation across multiple import regions.
Australia is a major origin for export barley, with production outcomes closely tied to rainfall patterns and seasonal conditions.
Canada is a consistent supplier across feed and malting channels, supported by high average yields relative to many peers.
The UK’s barley system is tightly linked to domestic demand and quality specifications, with strong yields but variable year-to-year output.
Ukraine remains an important player, with output shaped by agronomic conditions and operating constraints across the sector.
Turkey’s barley role is primarily domestic (feed and food uses), and production can swing with rainfall and water availability.
Argentina’s barley production is increasingly tied to export-oriented supply chains and quality segmentation for malting.
Kazakhstan contributes meaningful volumes in Eurasian grain balances, with yields sensitive to regional moisture conditions.
U.S. barley is smaller in global scale, but it remains strategically important for domestic malting and specialized feed needs.
Table 1. Top 10 barley producers (production and share of world)
| Rank | Producer | Production (MMT) | Share of world |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | European Union | 56.00 | 36.43% |
| 2 | Russia | 19.40 | 12.62% |
| 3 | Australia | 15.50 | 10.08% |
| 4 | Canada | 9.73 | 6.33% |
| 5 | United Kingdom | 6.37 | 4.14% |
| 6 | Ukraine | 5.90 | 3.84% |
| 7 | Turkey | 5.60 | 3.64% |
| 8 | Argentina | 5.60 | 3.64% |
| 9 | Kazakhstan | 3.70 | 2.41% |
| 10 | United States | 3.07 | 2.00% |
World total (MY 2025/26): 153.72 MMT. Share values are computed as producer output divided by world production.
Chart 1. Barley production volumes for the top 20 producers
- European Union — 56.00 MMT
- Russia — 19.40 MMT
- Australia — 15.50 MMT
- Canada — 9.73 MMT
- United Kingdom — 6.37 MMT
- Ukraine — 5.90 MMT
- Turkey — 5.60 MMT
- Argentina — 5.60 MMT
- Kazakhstan — 3.70 MMT
- United States — 3.07 MMT
- Iran — 3.00 MMT
- Ethiopia — 2.49 MMT
- China — 2.30 MMT
- India — 1.92 MMT
- Algeria — 1.35 MMT
- Belarus — 1.25 MMT
- Azerbaijan — 1.10 MMT
- Morocco — 0.95 MMT
- Mexico — 0.81 MMT
- Uruguay — 0.80 MMT
Units: million metric tons (MMT). Snapshot: MY 2025/26.
Methodology (how this 2025 ranking is built)
This article uses the latest global crop production estimates available today for barley and treats the 2025/26 marketing year as the most practical “2025” reference point. Values are taken from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service’s World Agricultural Production tables (February 2026 release), which compile crop area, yield, and production using a mix of official country statistics, on-the-ground agricultural reporting, and analytical techniques (including satellite imagery). Production values are expressed in million metric tons and rounded to two decimals for readability. The European Union is presented as an aggregate bloc (as in the source tables), while other producers are listed as individual countries. Because agricultural statistics can be revised as harvest information improves, small ranking changes are possible in later updates—especially in years with unusual weather or large acreage shifts.
Key insights (what the 2025 numbers signal)
First, barley supply is dominated by a few origins: the EU alone contributes about 36% of world output, and the top ten producers together account for roughly 85%. Second, performance is not only about acreage: high-yield systems (for example, parts of Western Europe) can generate large volumes on relatively efficient land use, while lower-yield regions depend on larger areas and are more exposed to rainfall variability. Third, the same crop serves two demanding markets—feed and malt—so quality outcomes matter: strong production does not automatically translate into malting availability if protein or moisture conditions are unfavorable. Finally, because barley competes with other coarse grains and wheat for land, relative prices and farm economics can reallocate area quickly between seasons.
What this means for readers
If you follow food prices, livestock costs, or beer and spirits markets, barley is a useful indicator of upstream pressure. A strong EU crop can stabilize global availability, while weather-driven shortfalls in major exporters can tighten supply and lift prices for feed users and maltsters. For households, the link is mostly indirect—via meat, dairy, and processed food costs—but in barley-centric regions, local harvest outcomes can influence farm incomes, employment, and the price of grain-based products.
FAQ (barley production and the ranking)
Why is the European Union listed as one producer?
The underlying crop tables aggregate EU output as a single bloc for comparability and market analysis. Individual EU members are included within that total.
Is this “calendar year 2025” production?
No. The ranking uses marketing year (MY) 2025/26 estimates, which align more closely with harvest-and-trade cycles. It is used here as the most current “2025” snapshot.
Can a country produce a lot of barley but export little?
Yes. Large producers may primarily serve domestic feed and food demand. Export intensity depends on local consumption, logistics, and policy settings.
Does higher production always mean more malting barley?
Not necessarily. Malting requires quality specifications (including protein and moisture). Weather at harvest can shift how much of the crop is suitable for malt versus feed.
Why do rankings change year to year?
Acreage decisions, rainfall and temperature patterns, disease pressure, and relative crop prices can all change output quickly—especially in rainfed systems.
What is the biggest risk to global barley supply?
Concentration risk: when a small group of regions accounts for most output, simultaneous weather stress across those regions can affect availability and prices.
Top barley producers in 2025: the countries shaping feed, malt, and grain markets
Barley sits at the intersection of food systems and industrial demand: it is a staple feed grain for livestock, a key input for malting (beer and spirits), and an important rotation crop in temperate farming systems. Using the latest internationally comparable crop estimates available today, global barley production for the 2025/26 marketing year is projected at 153.72 million metric tons.
Production leadership is highly concentrated. The top four producers account for about 65.46% of world output, and the top ten account for about 85.14%—a reminder that weather shocks in a handful of regions can ripple through feed costs and malt supply.
Top 10 barley producing countries/regions (MY 2025/26)
The EU’s scale comes from broad acreage plus strong yields in key grain belts, making it the single largest barley-producing bloc.
Russia’s barley output is large enough to influence export availability and price formation across multiple import regions.
Australia is a major origin for export barley, with production outcomes closely tied to rainfall patterns and seasonal conditions.
Canada is a consistent supplier across feed and malting channels, supported by high average yields relative to many peers.
The UK’s barley system is tightly linked to domestic demand and quality specifications, with strong yields but variable year-to-year output.
Ukraine remains an important player, with output shaped by agronomic conditions and operating constraints across the sector.
Turkey’s barley role is primarily domestic (feed and food uses), and production can swing with rainfall and water availability.
Argentina’s barley production is increasingly tied to export-oriented supply chains and quality segmentation for malting.
Kazakhstan contributes meaningful volumes in Eurasian grain balances, with yields sensitive to regional moisture conditions.
U.S. barley is smaller in global scale, but it remains strategically important for domestic malting and specialized feed needs.
Table 1. Top 10 barley producers (production and share of world)
| Rank | Producer | Production (MMT) | Share of world |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | European Union | 56.00 | 36.43% |
| 2 | Russia | 19.40 | 12.62% |
| 3 | Australia | 15.50 | 10.08% |
| 4 | Canada | 9.73 | 6.33% |
| 5 | United Kingdom | 6.37 | 4.14% |
| 6 | Ukraine | 5.90 | 3.84% |
| 7 | Turkey | 5.60 | 3.64% |
| 8 | Argentina | 5.60 | 3.64% |
| 9 | Kazakhstan | 3.70 | 2.41% |
| 10 | United States | 3.07 | 2.00% |
World total (MY 2025/26): 153.72 MMT. Share values are computed as producer output divided by world production.
Chart 1. Barley production volumes for the top 20 producers
- European Union — 56.00 MMT
- Russia — 19.40 MMT
- Australia — 15.50 MMT
- Canada — 9.73 MMT
- United Kingdom — 6.37 MMT
- Ukraine — 5.90 MMT
- Turkey — 5.60 MMT
- Argentina — 5.60 MMT
- Kazakhstan — 3.70 MMT
- United States — 3.07 MMT
- Iran — 3.00 MMT
- Ethiopia — 2.49 MMT
- China — 2.30 MMT
- India — 1.92 MMT
- Algeria — 1.35 MMT
- Belarus — 1.25 MMT
- Azerbaijan — 1.10 MMT
- Morocco — 0.95 MMT
- Mexico — 0.81 MMT
- Uruguay — 0.80 MMT
Units: million metric tons (MMT). Snapshot: MY 2025/26.
Methodology (how this 2025 ranking is built)
This article uses the latest global crop production estimates available today for barley and treats the 2025/26 marketing year as the most practical “2025” reference point. Values are taken from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service’s World Agricultural Production tables (February 2026 release), which compile crop area, yield, and production using a mix of official country statistics, on-the-ground agricultural reporting, and analytical techniques (including satellite imagery). Production values are expressed in million metric tons and rounded to two decimals for readability. The European Union is presented as an aggregate bloc (as in the source tables), while other producers are listed as individual countries. Because agricultural statistics can be revised as harvest information improves, small ranking changes are possible in later updates—especially in years with unusual weather or large acreage shifts.
Key insights (what the 2025 numbers signal)
First, barley supply is dominated by a few origins: the EU alone contributes about 36% of world output, and the top ten producers together account for roughly 85%. Second, performance is not only about acreage: high-yield systems (for example, parts of Western Europe) can generate large volumes on relatively efficient land use, while lower-yield regions depend on larger areas and are more exposed to rainfall variability. Third, the same crop serves two demanding markets—feed and malt—so quality outcomes matter: strong production does not automatically translate into malting availability if protein or moisture conditions are unfavorable. Finally, because barley competes with other coarse grains and wheat for land, relative prices and farm economics can reallocate area quickly between seasons.
What this means for readers
If you follow food prices, livestock costs, or beer and spirits markets, barley is a useful indicator of upstream pressure. A strong EU crop can stabilize global availability, while weather-driven shortfalls in major exporters can tighten supply and lift prices for feed users and maltsters. For households, the link is mostly indirect—via meat, dairy, and processed food costs—but in barley-centric regions, local harvest outcomes can influence farm incomes, employment, and the price of grain-based products.
Interpretation: what the 2025 barley hierarchy tells us
The production ranking highlights a structural reality: barley is a global crop, but supply leadership is concentrated. When a small set of origins accounts for most output, market stability depends heavily on the weather, agronomy, and logistics of those regions. The European Union’s scale anchors total availability, while Eurasian and Southern Hemisphere producers can materially influence exportable surplus in years when domestic demand is stable.
Another clear message is that “big producer” does not mean the same thing everywhere. Some regions sit at the top because they combine high yields with substantial acreage. Others rely on land scale and accept more yield volatility. That difference matters for forecasting: yield-sensitive systems can change output sharply with weather shocks, while acreage-driven systems can respond over a longer horizon through planting decisions.
Market and policy takeaways
- Feed costs: barley competes with other grains in ration formulas; large supply swings can influence livestock margins.
- Malt availability: volume matters, but quality matters too; harvest conditions affect malting suitability even in high-production years.
- Climate exposure: concentrated supply raises systemic risk when multiple key regions face the same drought or heat pattern.
- Resilience: investments in water efficiency, disease management, and storage/logistics reduce the likelihood that production shocks become price shocks.
- Transparency: consistent, comparable crop reporting improves risk management for processors and import-dependent markets.
The practical implication is that barley markets should be read with two lenses at once: the production ranking (who has the volume) and the quality/flow lens (how much of that volume can actually move into the channels that demand it). In years where quality is constrained, market tightness can occur even if global production looks adequate on paper.
Sources (official and reference)
-
USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) — World Agricultural Production
February 2026 release; Table 05 (Barley area, yield, and production) used for MY 2025/26 values.
https://apps.fas.usda.gov/psdonline/circulars/production.pdf -
USDA — World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE)
Monthly supply/demand context for grains and coarse grains (reference for broader market framing).
https://www.usda.gov/oce/commodity/wasde -
FAO — FAOSTAT
Long-run historical production series (reference for multi-year comparisons and trends).
https://www.fao.org/faostat/
Update basis: production values are from the MY 2025/26 estimate set available in February 2026 and are used here as the most current “2025” snapshot for global ranking purposes.
