Algeria has barred French companies from participating in a recent wheat import tender, requiring that no French-origin wheat be offered. This decision reflects escalating diplomatic tensions between Algiers and Paris, particularly following France’s support for Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, a region Algeria backs for independence.
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Algeria is one of the world’s largest wheat importers and has historically relied on France as its primary supplier.
The recent tender, conducted by Algeria’s state grains agency OAIC, involved the purchase of over 500,000 metric tons of wheat but did not allow French firms to participate.
Non-French companies were instructed not to propose French wheat as a supply option, indicating a significant shift in Algeria’s import strategy.
The exclusion is reminiscent of a previous dispute three years ago that sidelined France from Algeria’s wheat tenders for several months, paving the way for increased Russian wheat supplies.
Algeria’s wheat market is now predominantly supplied by Black Sea countries, particularly Russia, which is benefiting from Algeria’s current preferences due to higher French wheat prices and poor harvests in France.