June 19, 2012

Algeria stops durum wheat, barley imports till year-end

Due to a promising domestic harvest and stock-building, Algeria has halted imports of durum wheat and barley until the end of December this year, the head of the state grain agency said on Monday (June 18).

"We took the decision (to halt imports) in April," Nouredine Kahel, head of the OAIC state grain agency, told reporters on the side lines of a grain conference.

Agriculture Minister Rachid Benaissa last week said he expected the grain harvest for this year to reach 5.8 million tonnes or even exceed that level thanks to better weather conditions and incentives for farmers.

Algeria's domestic grain harvest last year reached 4.2 million tonnes, pushing imports up to 7.42 million, the largest amount since the country became independent from France in 1962.