Russia steps up wheat exports to Algeria

Russian exporters are stepping up wheat shipments to Algeria, after the country faced quality issues this year from its traditional supplier France.

Demetra Trading became the latest firm to supply Russian 12.5pc protein grade milling wheat to Algeria, having delivered a 60,000t cargo of the crop, it said. This was the largest single delivery from Russia to Algeria since 2016.

The vessels left the port of Taman in September and unloading has now been completed at the port of Oran, Demetra Trading said.

This would bring Russian wheat exports to Algeria to a record 144,200t, with Viterra previously having delivered 88,200t since July.

Algeria typically excludes Black Sea wheat from participation in its international wheat purchase tenders because of strict quality specifications. But given concerns over this year's wheat crop quality across Europe — especially in France, where only 30pc of the 2021-22 wheat crop could be fit for milling purposes — Algerian state-run grains agency OAIC in August lowered its test weight requirement for wheat cargoes to 76 kg/hectolitre, eyeing alternative wheat suppliers.

Russian exporters are ramping up shipments to Algeria at a time when the country is seeking higher supply in the international markets because of lower-than-expected domestic production. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS Algiers) this week revised up Algeria's 2021-22 wheat import projections to 8mn t, from 7.15mn t expected previously.

Algeria's higher imports have been mostly met by Germany so far this marketing year. The latter shipped 245,000t of wheat to Algeria in August, latest available data from the German statistical office show. This was up from just 27,000t in July and 33,000t in August 2020.

By Bilal Muftuoglu