Turkish barley prices fell this week as fresh crops entered the market and after last week's opening price was higher than expected, brokers said on Thursday.
White barley traded between 300,000-340,000 lira per kg at the season's opening last week, a 40 percent rise over last year and compared to expectations of around 280,000 lira.
"The State Grain Office (TMO) raised the price of the season wheat modestly, compared to last season. This is pushing barley prices down," Senayi Gokce, a trader from Polatli exchange said.
TMO General Director Nebi Celik said on Monday the opening buying price for 2004/2005 milling wheat was 14 percent higher than last year at 370,500 lira per kilo ($252 per tonne).
The TMO has not set a price for barley this season, but the traders figured the price would have been around 250,000 lira per kilo if its price had also been raised by 14 percent.
"We don't expect barley to fall to that price. This season the market will balance barley prices by itself, since the TMO has not set a price," he said.