São Paulo – Algeria imported 2.03 million tons of sugar last year, up 5% from 1.93 million tons in 2015. The numbers are from the Algerian Customs’ National Center for Data Processing and Statistics and were made available by Algérie Presse Service.
Total spending on imports of sugar and its raw materials, including raw beet, sugar cane and lactose syrup, was USD 871.7 million, a 22% increase from USD 714.76 million in 2015.
The main driver of the increase was the international sugar price hike. Average spending per ton in Algeria was USD 398, up from USD 358 per ton in 2015.
Refined sugar imports averaged at USD 522 per ton last year, up 3.2% from USD 506 per ton in 2015. Brazil is a major supplier of sugar to the North African country.
Much of the foodstuffs consumed in Algeria are imported, with agriculture making up only 13.1% of GDP. The country’s economy is primarily driven by oil and gas production. Locally-grown items include wheat, grapes, olives, barley, oats and fruits, in addition to sheep and cattle farming.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
