Market research

Barley market in Bhutan

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

Report language:

Report language:

Submission method: to your account

File format: docx, xlsx

Single Report

$500

Instant access to detailed data on one specific market
Ideal for one-off tasks: niche assessments, presentations, investment decisions
Available in Excel and Word in 15 minutes after purchase
Cheaper than subscription, but each market requires a separate purchase

Best if you know exactly what you need

Buy a single report

Platform Subscription

from$600

Complete and unlimited data access across products and regions
Includes continuous data updates during subscription period
Download reports instantly in Word, and Excel formats
More cost-effective for multiple markets or regular analysis

Ideal for regular data users

View pricing plans

Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2020, Bhutan's barley market volume fluctuated, reaching a peak of 1 543 t in 2020. This period was shaped by the implementation of the RNR Marketing Policy 2018, which focused on market development and import substitution for processed agricultural goods. The policy aimed to enhance competitiveness and encouraged producers to engage directly with the market. In 2020, COVID-19 lockdowns prompted government-led initiatives to facilitate the distribution of agricultural products, including the use of social media to connect farmers with consumers, which helped sustain market activity during that year.

From 2021 onwards, the barley market entered a sustained decline, falling to 665 t by 2023. This downturn occurred alongside significant challenges to domestic production, including competition from cheaper imported barley and high domestic transportation costs, which affected the marketability of locally grown barley. Concurrent government efforts, such as the RNR Marketing Strategy 2021 and the Food Self-sufficiency Policy, continued to promote domestic production and import substitution, but these were insufficient to reverse the overall contraction in market volume during these years.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2025
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2025
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Bhutan
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Bhutan in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Bhutan in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Bhutan in kind, 2018-2025, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Bhutan in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Bhutan, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Bhutan in kind, 2018-2025, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Bhutan in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Bhutan, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/t
7. Trade balance
1. 7.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 7.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 7.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 7.2.2. In value, K $ US
8. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2025
1. 8.1. Direct Data
  1. 8.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 8.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 8.2. Mirror Data
  1. 8.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 8.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production barley in Bhutan

In kind, 2018-2021, t

Top producers of barley, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of barley, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Bhutan's barley production saw a two-year increase before declining. In 2021, production dropped to 857 t, down 23.7% from 2020. Over the period from 2018 to 2021, overall production fell by 7.7%, averaging an annual decrease of 2.6%. The peak production was recorded in 2020 at 1 123 t, while the largest year-on-year increase occurred in 2019, rising by 10.5%.

Annual dynamics of production in Bhutan in kind, 2018-2021, t

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	10.5%	9.5%	(23.7%)	(2.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports barley from Bhutan

Market data indicates that Bhutan did not export any barley from 2018 to 2021.

Imports barley to Bhutan

Imports in kind, t

The data shows irregular changes, pointing to a volatile market environment. The lowest import volume was recorded in 2021, while the highest was in 2018, with a peak-to-trough ratio of 335 times. In 2021, Bhutan imported 1.7 t of barley, marking a sharp drop of 99.6% compared to 2020. The largest increase occurred in 2020, rising by 26.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Bhutan in kind, 2018-2021, t

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(41.3%)	26.5%	(99.6%)	(85.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2018 to 2021, barley imports to Bhutan were sourced almost entirely from India, which accounted for 100.0% of total imports in kind.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Bhutan in kind, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

Foreign barley supplies to Bhutan declined for the third consecutive year. In 2021, imports amounted to 1.7 K $ US, showing a steep decrease of 98.2% compared to the previous year. Between 2018 and 2021, imports fell by 98.6%, averaging an annual decline of 75.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Bhutan in value, 2018-2021, K $ US