Algeria is set to enhance its wheat imports from Russia, with projections indicating that purchases could reach 3 million metric tons during the current season. This anticipated increase follows the allocation of a significant portion of 510,000 tons purchased by Algeria’s state grains agency in a tender on October 8, which was largely awarded to Russian suppliers.
According to the Russian trade mission in Algeria, if the current trend persists, supplies of Russian grain to Algeria could meet this target by the end of the season. This announcement follows Algeria’s recent decision to exclude French companies from its wheat import tenders, mandating that participants refrain from offering French-origin wheat, a move seen as a response to growing diplomatic tensions between Algeria and France.
Algeria has historically been one of the largest wheat buyers globally, with France being its primary supplier for many years. However, it now ranks among the top five importers of Russian wheat, alongside Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Türkiye.
As the world’s largest wheat exporter, Russia aims to solidify its position as an agricultural powerhouse, with President Vladimir Putin directing a 50% increase in agricultural exports by 2030. Recent reports indicate that Algeria imported 978,000 tons of wheat from Russia during the first three months of the current export season, covering July to September.
In a demonstration of strengthening bilateral relations, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune visited Russia in June 2023, where he met with President Putin, who described the partnership between their countries as “strategic.”
