Algeria Seeks Up to 720,000 Tonnes of Wheat in New International Tender

Tender Volume and Provisional Details

According to Al-Shuruq Online, Algeria is looking to acquire up to 720,000 tonnes of wheat through an international tender. This estimate surpasses the earlier assessment made on Tuesday evening, when traders indicated the country’s purchases were around 600,000 tonnes. Both the quantity and the price figures remain provisional and could be adjusted as additional market information emerges.

Supply Origins and Delivery Schedule

The tender permits wheat of optional origins, with potential shipments expected to include grain from the Baltic Sea region, notably Russian wheat exported via Russian ports, as well as supplies from Romania, Bulgaria and Algeria. Algeria has asked for deliveries from major supply areas, including Europe, to be made in two windows: December 1–15 and December 16–31. For wheat originating from South America, India or Australia, the shipment deadline is set one month earlier than those dates.

Market Conditions and Historical Context

The tender is being issued at a difficult time for importers, as low‑cost Russian and Ukrainian wheat exports through the Black Sea have been largely halted by the ongoing conflict. Nevertheless, wheat prices have pulled back from the peaks not seen for years that were reached about a month ago, a decline partly driven by increased Russian exports through Baltic Sea ports that have encouraged some buyers to re‑enter the market. Algeria continues to be one of the leading importers of wheat from European Union countries, although its interest in French wheat has fallen over the past two years, a trend traders link to diplomatic tensions between Algiers and Paris. In its previous tender, announced in mid‑September, Algeria’s state grain agency bought roughly 500,000 tonnes of milling wheat at prices ranging from $319 to $321 per tonne, cost and freight included.