September 20, 2013

The first US corn shipment to Algeria has pushed through after the US removed the value added tax (VAT) and custom tax on all feed imports into Algeria.

The taxes were finally removed in September 2013, including those on distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and corn gluten feed (CGF), following a 3½ year effort by the US Grains Council (USGC) in cooperation with USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service.

Sarl Nutrimag, an Algerian commercial importer, made the first ever purchase of US DDGS and CGF into Algeria, which began unloading on September 5, 2013. According to Cary Sifferath, USGC regional director for the Middle East and Africa, this shipment is one of the beginning steps to a greater future for US DDGS and CGF in the Algerian market.

Sifferath said that through continuous efforts of the council and support from their allies, products like DDGS and CGF were included in a list of feed ingredients that have had their import duties and VAT reduced to zero until August 2014. "This shipment of US DDGS and CGF will open the door for end-users in Algeria to buy US corn co-products in the future. The Council sees opportunities for these products fitting well into both the Algerian poultry and dairy industries."

After Egypt, Algeria is the second-largest African importer of feed grains.

US agricultural exports to sub-Saharan Africa have increased by over 200% in the last decade. Bilateral agricultural trade the region and the US is now approaching US$5 billion.