Jean-Jacques Vorimore, president of France Export Cereals, said annual supplies would rise over the next few years from the current 100,000 tons to 500,000 tons.

Speaking at a recent seminar in Wuhan, the capital of Central China's Hubei Province, Vorimore said that France, one of the world's major malting barley suppliers, aims to become a regular long-term source for China. "We plan to bring our barley exports to China to one-third of China's total imports," he added.

"China has become the world's largest brewer and consumer of beer, and it requires a stable supply of quality malting barley. There is huge potential for the industry in the two nations to co-operate," said Vorimore.

Australia and Canada have been China's major sources of barley for almost a decade. French barley is usually imported when, due to seasonal factors, there is no more good-quality malting barley from these two countries. 

Surging transportation costs and the falling US dollar have made French barley more expensive in recent years, driving away many price-sensitive Chinese breweries.

Source:佚名