World Grain - September 2022 - 18

COUNTRY FOCUS
KEY FACTS
FOCUS ON
LIBYA
Declining crop production has led to
increased dependence on imports
by Chris Lyddon
Libya, on the north coast of Africa, can produce only a small part
of the food its population needs. Years of instability have meant a
series of challenges for the wheat supply chain that supplies most
of the diet of the country's people.
The United States does not have diplomatic representation in
Libya, but in 2020, the US Department of Agriculture's Foreign
Agricultural Service (FAS) office in Morocco prepared a report
looking at the prospects for US exports to the country.
" The nation is characterized by an unstable government, conflict,
opaque regulations, petroleum revenues, an underperforming
agricultural sector, and about $3 billion worth of agricultural
imports from around the world every year, " the FAS said. " Libya
faces economic instability, reflected in erratic GDP growth. "
Agriculture makes up 1.3% of Libya's GDP, but the ongoing
civil war, worsening climate conditions, and limited arable land
has led to a decline in production, the FAS said.
" Domestic agricultural production only met 25% of national demand
in 2018, resulting in a strong reliance on imported agricultural
products and processed foods to meet its needs, " the FAS said. " The
continuation of conflict in Libya will be a major factor
in the country's future economic trends. Libya
poses unique opportunities and challenges
for US agricultural exports. "
The International Grains Council
(IGC) in its Aug. 18 Grain
Market Report forecast Libya's
2022-23 wheat production at
100,000 tonnes, a prediction
unrevised from the previous
month's report and unchanged
from 2021-22.
The country's imports of
wheat are put at 1.3 million
tonnes in 2022-23, a forecast
unchanged from the previous
month and from the previous
year's imports. Imports
of barley in 2022-23 are forecast
at 500,000 tonnes, an unrevised fig18
Capital:
Tripoli (Tarabulus)
Population: 7,137,931 (2022 est.)
Religions: Muslim (official; virtually all Sunni)
96.6%, Christian 2.7%, Buddhist <1%,
Hindu <1%, Jewish <1%, folk religion <1%,
other <1%, unaffiliated <1% (2020 est.)
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the
Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt, Tunisia
and Algeria.
Government: In transition. Chief of state:
Presidential Council Chairman Mohammed
Al Menfi (since Feb. 5, 2021); head of government:
Interim Prime Minister Abdul Hamid
Dubaybah (since Feb. 5, 2021).
Economy: Libya's economy, almost entirely
dependent on oil and gas exports,
has struggled since 2014 given security
and political instability, disruptions in oil
production, and decline in global oil prices.
The Libyan dinar has lost much of its
value since 2014 and the resulting gap between
official and black-market exchange
rates has spurred the growth of a shadow
economy and contributed to inflation. The
country suffers from widespread power
outages, caused by shortages of fuel for
power generation. Living conditions, including
access to clean drinking water,
medical services, and safe housing all
have declined since 2011. Oil production in
2017 reached a five-year high, driving GDP
growth, with daily average production rising
to 879,000 barrels per day. However, oil
production levels remain below the average
pre-revolution highs of 1.6 million barrels
per day. The Central Bank of Libya continued
to pay government salaries to a majority
of the Libyan workforce and to fund
subsidies for fuel and food, resulting in an
estimated budget deficit of about 17% of
GDP in 2017. Low consumer confidence in
the banking sector and the economy as a
whole has driven a severe liquidity shortage.
GDP
per capita: $10,300 (2020 est.); inflation:
28.5% (2017 est.); unemployment:
30% (2004 est.).
Currency: Libyan dinars (LYD): 4.8 dinars
equal 1 US dollar (Aug. 22, 2022).
Exports: $29.96 billion (2018 est.) note:
data are in current year dollars: crude petroleum,
natural gas, gold, refined petroleum,
scrap iron (2019).
Imports: $18.85 billion (2018 est.) note:
data are in current year dollars: refined
petroleum, cars, broadcasting equipment,
cigarettes, jewelry (2019).
Agriculture: 1.3% (2017 est.) of GDP and
17% of the labor force.
Internet: Code: .ly; 1,491,040 (2019 est.)
users.
Source : CIA World Factbook
World Grain - September 2022

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