Increase in Algeria's Wheat Imports

Algeria's soft and durum wheat imports rose 41.5% to a record 7.42 million tons in 2011, customs data showed, as the country boosts stocks. The data showed energy exports earned the OPEC member nation US$71.24 billion in 2011, a 28.3% rise from US$55.52 in the previous year.

As a result, the country's trade surplus increased 62.5% to US$26.9 billion from US$17.6 billion, despite a rise in imports. The volume of Soft wheat imports was up 39.23% to 5.55 million tons from 3.98 million tons, durum wheat purchases rose 48% to 1.85 million tons from 1.24 million tons.

France led Algeria's suppliers of soft and durum wheat with 4.53 million and 1.096 million tons respectively. Soft and durum wheat imports for 2011 were the highest since Algeria won independence from France in 1962, according to figures from the UN food agency.

Algeria at the start of this year decided to speed up wheat imports to boost stocks in the wake of rioting in January. Algeria's domestic cereal harvest fell again in 2011 to 4.2 million tons, with agriculture ministry officials blaming poor weather conditions.

The harvest in 2010 had been 4.56 million tons. That was down from the previous year's record of 6.1 million tons but still in line with the average over the past few years. The value of Algeria's total imports in 2011 rose 14.8% to US$46.45 billion, while exports valued US$73.40 billion, a 28.6% rise from US$57.05 billion in 2010. The value of oil and gas sales abroad accounted for 97% of total exports.