Algeria imported to 1st semester 2008 for an amount of about 2 billion dollars in cereals, against 910 million dollars for the same period last year. This important amount of currency can be explained by the rise in the wheat rates in the world markets, due essentially to drought which continues to rage over the planet. We should note that Algeria buys about 80% of its needs in cereals.
According to the figures given by the general director of the inter-professional Algerian Office of cereals (OAIC), over 5,1 million tons of tender and hard wheat were imported to cover the national consumption needs in 2008. We should specify that the needs of Algeria in terms of cereals are estimated at 60 million quintals annually, with a considerable rate of wheat. The quantities of cereals produced in Algeria are estimated at 41 million quintals per year. The wheat local production covers only 50% of the national needs.
We should note that the first authority at the OAIC, raised the possibility to ask subsidies for hard wheat prices from the State. We should note that the Office assumes the difference between the wheat real price and the sales one, amounting to many billions dinars.
