World Grain - March 2022 - 20

COUNTRY FOCUS
KEY FACTS
FOCUS ON
ALGERIA
North African country turning to
Russia for wheat imports
by Chris Lyddon
Algeria, on the north coast of Africa, operates a highly controlled
and managed grains sector. A traditional customer of France, the
country has turned more to Russia for its wheat supplies in recent
times. Trade experts see the reasons for the switch as everything
from political tension between France and Algeria, to a straightforward
price calculation.
In its Grain Market Report of Feb. 17, the International Grains
Council (IGC) put Algeria's total grains production in 2021-22 at
4.3 million tonnes, compared with 5.8 million the previous year.
The wheat crop is put at 3 million tonnes, down from 3.8 million
the previous season, while output of barley is estimated at 1.2
million tonnes, down from 1.8 million.
The IGC forecasts Algeria's total grains imports in 2021-22
at 12.6 million tonnes, compared with 13.2 million in 2020-21.
Imports of wheat are put at 7.1 million tonnes, down from 7.7
million. Imports of maize are expected to total 5 million tonnes,
up from 4.7 million the previous year. Barley imports are seen
falling to 500,000 tonnes, from 800,000.
In an update on the grains sector dated Jan. 31, the USDA attaché
in Algiers noted that " rising concerns over
world wheat supply due to crop quality
forced global importers to speed up purchasing
to secure their required volumes
despite price increases. "
" Reports
from
traders
indicate
that the Algerian Office
of Cereals (OAIC) continued
buying bread wheat and
durum on the international
market
throughout
2021
and are continuing to do so
into 2022, " the attaché said.
" Reports also indicate that
Algeria was again a top destination
of 200,000 tonnes of
wheat from Russia in December
2021. "
In November 2021, the Algerian
Arabic outlet ENNAHAR reported
20
Capital: Algiers
Population: 43,576,691 (July 2021 est.)
Religions: Muslim (official; predominantly Sunni)
99%, other (includes Christian, Jewish, Ahmadi
Muslims, Shia Muslims) <1% (2012 est.).
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean
Sea, between Morocco and Tunisia.
Government: Presidential republic. Chief of
state: President Abdelmadjid (since Dec. 12,
2019). Head of government: Prime Minister
Ayman Benabderrahmane (since July 7, 2021).
Economy: Algeria's economy is dominated by
the state, a legacy of the country's socialist postindependence
development model. In recent
years the government has halted the privatization
of state-owned industries and imposed restrictions
on imports and foreign involvement in
its economy. Hydrocarbons have long been the
backbone of the economy, accounting for roughly
30% of GDP, 60% of budget revenues, and
nearly 95% of export earnings. Algeria has the
10th-largest reserves of natural gas in the world
and is the sixth-largest gas exporter. It ranks 16th
in proven oil reserves. Hydrocarbon exports enabled
Algeria to maintain macroeconomic stability,
amass large foreign currency reserves, and
maintain low external debt while global oil prices
were high. With lower oil prices since 2014, Algeria's
foreign exchange reserves have declined by
more than half and its oil stabilization fund has
decreased from about $20 billion at the end of
2013 to about $7 billion in 2017, which is the statutory
minimum. Over the past three years, the
government has enacted incremental increases
in some taxes, resulting in modest increases in
prices for gasoline, cigarettes, alcohol, and certain
imported goods, but it has refrained from
reducing subsidies, particularly for education,
health care, and housing programs. Algiers has
increased protectionist measures since 2015 to
limit its import bill and encourage domestic production
of non-oil and gas industries. Since 2015,
the government has imposed additional restrictions
on access to foreign exchange for imports,
and import quotas for specific products, such as
cars. President Bouteflika announced in fall 2017
that Algeria intends to develop its non-conventional
energy resources.
GDP per capita: $10,700 note: data are in 2017
dollars (2020 est.); inflation: 1.9% (2019 est.); unemployment:
11.7% (2017 est.).
Currency: Algerian dinars (DZD): 143.7 dinars
equal 1 US dollar (Feb. 23, 2022).
Exports: $38.32 billion note: data are in current
year dollars (2019 est.): crude petroleum, natural
gas, refined petroleum, fertilizers (2019)
Imports: $54.26 billion note: data are in current
year dollars (2019 est.): refined petroleum,
wheat, packaged medical supplies, milk, vehicle
parts (2019)
Agriculture: 13.3% (2017 est.) of GDP and 10.8%
of the labor force
Internet: Code: .dz; 26.35 million (2021 est.) users.
Source:
CIA World Factbook
March 2022 / World Grain / World-Grain.com
http://www.World-Grain.com
World Grain - March 2022

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