Algeria expands list of accredited grain suppliers from Russia by 5 companies

MOSCOW. April 10 (Interfax) - Algeria has expanded the list of authorized grain suppliers to the country's market by 5 Russian companies.

According to the Union of Grain Exporters, the Algerian Grain Committee (OAIC) has accredited AST, OZK Trading, Bio-Ton, Rusagro Group and GTCS following an additional competitive selection process.

In particular, this concerns supplies of soft and hard wheat, barley, lentils, chickpeas, beans and seeds of these crops.

According to local legislation, OAIC import purchases are carried out within the framework of closed tenders, the terms of participation in which are sent only to the companies short-listed by the committee.

Eduard Zernin, chairman of the board of the Union of Grain Exporters, told Interfax that the expansion of the list of Russian suppliers is "a direct result of the 'grain diplomacy' that the Union is conducting together with the Agriculture Ministry, Rosselkhoznadzor and Agroexport." "The OAIC's decision to expand the list of Russian grain suppliers will increase the direct supply of products at international tenders held by the committee, bypassing foreign intermediaries," he said.

Zernin noted that Algeria is one of the largest importers of grain in the world and is among the five main buyers of Russian wheat.

According to the Union, in 2022/2023 agricultural year, Russia exported 2.15 million tonnes of grain to Algeria, including 1.75 million tonnes of wheat. In the previous season, 500,000 tonnes of wheat was supplied. In this agricultural year (from July 1, 2023 to March 2024), exports amounted to 2 million tonnes, including 1.75 million tonnes of wheat.