Algeria Eyes Grain Self-Sufficiency Amidst Strategic Push with Mauritania
Takeaway
The 82% year-on-year increase in trade between Algeria and Mauritania signals growing economic integration in the Maghreb. Companies in construction, logistics, and finance should monitor the Tindouf-Zouérat road project and the expansion of the Algerian Union Bank. Algeria's push for grain self-sufficiency may create opportunities for agricultural technology and equipment providers.
Algeria is strategically maneuvering to bolster its grain supply and reduce import dependence, highlighted by Agriculture Minister Youcef Cherfa's announcement in June 2025 that the country would cease all durum wheat imports in 2026. This declaration followed President Abdelmadjid Tebboune's commitment to end durum wheat imports by 2026, driven by what Cherfa described as an “excellent” harvest in 2025, with yields exceeding 55 quintals and reaching up to 80 quintals per hectare. Despite these efforts, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) projected in March 2025 that Algeria would still need to import over 9 million tonnes of wheat in the 2025-26 marketing year to meet domestic demand.
Historically, Algeria has been a major wheat importer, with the USDA estimating imports of 9 million metric tons for the 2024/25 season, following a record 9.4 million metric tons in the previous year. Bread wheat has typically constituted 75% to 80% of these imports, while durum wheat accounts for 20% to 25%. In 2024, Algeria imported $1.76 billion of wheat, becoming the 8th largest importer globally. The country's main wheat suppliers in 2024 were Bulgaria ($411 million), Canada ($338 million), and France ($311 million). President Tebboune announced in September 2024 that Algeria was on track to achieve full self-sufficiency in durum wheat production by the end of 2025.
To boost wheat production, the Algerian government has set ambitious agricultural goals, including expanding cultivated areas in southern Algeria to 500,000 hectares. Investments from Qatar and Italy, totaling 153,000 hectares, alongside national investments of 120,000 hectares, have been earmarked for this initiative. Despite these efforts, Algeria's 2025 output was estimated at 3 million tonnes of wheat and 1.35 million tonnes of barley, falling short of domestic needs, according to the USDA. The country's imports for the 2024/25 season were projected at 8 million tonnes, mainly sourced from Russia.
In parallel with its domestic agricultural initiatives, Algeria is strengthening economic ties with Mauritania, viewing it as a strategic partner. A key development is Algeria's tender to purchase one million heads of sheep from Mauritania, a move designed to enhance economic cooperation and trade in the livestock sector. Trade between Algeria and Mauritania reached $414 million in 2023, an 82% increase from $227 million in 2022. The upcoming 840-kilometer Tindouf-Zouérat road is expected to transform cargo flow into sub-Saharan Africa.
Looking ahead, the completion of the Tindouf-Zouérat road, constructed by a consortium of ten Algerian companies, will be a critical factor in boosting trade and economic integration between Algeria and Mauritania. The opening of a third branch of the Algerian Union Bank (AUB) in Zouerate, Mauritania, scheduled for June 2026, will further facilitate trade flows. Investors should monitor the progress of these infrastructure projects and the implementation of the free trade zone to assess the evolving trade dynamics between Algeria, Mauritania, and the broader West African region.