Algeria excludes French firms from wheat deal amid diplomatic tensions

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
11 Oct 2024 16:41
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In a ranking by Russia's Center for Grain Quality Assurance last month, Algeria was placed second, just behind Egypt, among the top five African importers of Russian wheat.

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In this June 21, 2015 file photo, wheat stands ready for harvest in a field near Anthony, Kan. (AP)

Algeria has barred French companies from bidding on a wheat import contract and instructed participating firms not to supply grain produced in France, according to a report by Reuters.

France had long been Algeria's largest wheat supplier, with Algeria historically relying on imports from the EU as one of the world's top wheat buyers.

However, in recent years, Algeria has increasingly turned to Russian wheat, which now dominates the North African market. An April report from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported this shift.

In a ranking by Russia's Center for Grain Quality Assurance last month, Algeria was placed second, just behind Egypt, among the top five African importers of Russian wheat between January and September this year, receiving 1.3 million tons.

On Tuesday, Algeria's state-owned Algerian Inter-professional Office of Cereals (OAIC) reportedly issued a tender for the purchase of over 500,000 tons of wheat, selecting Russia as its primary supplier.

Russia's trade mission in Algeria indicated that if this trend continues, Russian wheat exports to Algeria could reach 3 million tons by the end of the season, according to TRT Afrika.

The OAIC regularly conducts bids to buy grain from approved suppliers, including France.

However, six sources told Reuters that French firms were excluded from the shortlisting process for this week's tender. Participating companies were reportedly instructed not to offer French wheat as an option.

In response to the alleged exclusion, the OAIC issued a statement on Thursday, saying that the tender adhered to technical and industrial standards. It further explained that all shortlisted suppliers are considered strategic partners, "regardless of the origin of the product."

The agency reassured its European partners, stating that future consultations would be launched regularly based on the needs of the national market, and suppliers meeting technical and commercial requirements would be invited to participate.

▶️#AgriDZ
[APPEL D'OFFRES]
🇫🇷 🇩🇿 #Wheat #Algeria #القمح #الجزائر

Ça va plaire a @intercereales 🚜: #OAIC du @Madr_algerie dément il n' y a pas d'exclusion du blé origine #France.

Les sources de @GusTrompiz et Michael Hogan de chez @Reuters sont du "second hands" ❓ pic.twitter.com/AwKp3oVkLB
— Algeria - Business Today (@DZBusinessToday) October 10, 2024

These restrictions on French supplies come amid deteriorating relations between Algiers and Paris, with tensions flaring over the Western Sahara dispute.

In July, France angered Algeria by supporting Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara, a territory Morocco has claimed since 1975. Algeria, which backs the region's independence, recalled its ambassador from Paris, and President Abdelmadjid Tebboune canceled a planned visit to France, further escalating the diplomatic conflict.