World Grain - January 2016 - 20

COUNTRY FOCUS

Focus on Algeria
African country is a major grain market,
particularly for European suppliers
by Chris Lyddon

Key Facts

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cit in its food supply which is likely to continue despite ambitious
plans to increase production. The country plans improvements in
farming techniques and infrastructure but is likely to remain a big
market for grains, with European exporters, particularly France, the
main suppliers.
The International Grains Council (IGC) puts Algeria's total grain
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of barley.
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tonnes, down from 900,000.
The IGC puts Algeria's durum wheat production at 2.5 million
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In a Country Brief on Algeria published
in October, the United Nations Food and
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ALGERIA
tion, Algeria relies heavily on cereal grain
imports from the international market, with
common wheat being the most prominent."
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of stocks accumulated during two consecutive years
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The countries exporting wheat to Algeria include France, Canada,
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Capital: Algiers
Population: 39,542,166 (July 2015 est.)
Religions: Muslim (official; predominantly Sunni) 99%,
other (includes Christian and Jewish) <1% (2012 est.).
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean
Sea, between Morocco and Tunisia.
Government: Republic. Chief of state: President Abdelaziz Bouteflika (since April 28, 1999); head of government: Prime Minister Abdelmalk Sellal (since April 28, 2014).
Economy: Algeria's economy remains dominated by the
state, a legacy of the country's socialist post-independence
development model. In recent years the Algerian 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 60% of budget
revenues, 30% of GDP, and over 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 oil reserves. Strong revenues from hydrocarbon exports
have brought Algeria relative macroeconomic stability, with
foreign currency reserves approaching $200 billion and a
large budget stabilization fund available for tapping. In
addition, Algeria's external debt is extremely low at about
2% of GDP. However, Algeria has struggled to develop nonhydrocarbon industries because of heavy regulation and an
emphasis on state-driven growth. The government's efforts
have done little to reduce high youth unemployment rates
or to address housing shortages. A wave of economic protests in February and March 2011 prompted the Algerian
government to offer more than $23 billion in public grants
and retroactive salary and benefit increases, moves which
continue to weigh on public finances. Long-term economic
challenges include diversifying the economy away from its
reliance on hydrocarbon exports, bolstering the private sector, attracting foreign investment, and providing adequate
jobs for younger Algerians.
GDP per capita: $13,900 (2014 est.); inflation: 2.9%
(2014 est.); unemployment: 10.6% (2014 est.).
Currency: Algerian dinars (DZD) 106.95 dinars equal 1 U.S.
dollar (Dec. 22, 2015).
Exports: $60 billion (2014 est.): petroleum, natural gas,
and petroleum products 97% (2009 est.).
Imports: $59.67 billion (2014 est.): capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods.
Major crops/agricultural products: Wheat, barley, oats,
grapes, olives, citrus, fruits; sheep, cattle.
Agriculture: 10% of GDP and 14% of the labor force.
Internet: Code: .dz; 6.5 million users.

ITALY

PORTUGAL

SPAIN

MALTA

TUNISIA

MOROCCO

LIBYA

MAURITANIA

NIGER

MALI

Source: CIA World Factbook

January 2016 / World Grain / www.World-Grain.com

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World Grain - January 2016

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