Algeria's imports of crude edible oils and sugar for food industry dropped during the first five months of 2014 compared to the same period a year earlier, said the Algerian Customs' National Centre of Data Processing and Statistics (CNIS).
Imports of the crude soya and sunflower oils and fats amounted to US$320.89 million from January to May 2014, against US$404.26 million during the same period in 2013, down by 20.62%.
In terms of quantity, Algeria imported 329,423 tonnes during the first five months of 2014, against 350,452 tonnes during the same period in 2013, down by 6%, the CNIS said.
The decrease in imports is mainly due to the good harvest, particularly in Europe, which makes the prices fall to the lowest level ever.
The crude edible oils are imported and processed in Algeria by a private group and then exported to European and African countries.
During the same period of reference, Algeria imported 862,301 tonnes of sugar (for US$393.37 million) against 883,006 tonnes (US$469.02 million), down by 2.34% in terms of quantity and by 16.13% in terms of value, said the CNIS.
The production of refined sugar has significantly increased in Algeria since 2010 with the strengthening of the production capacity of an Algerian private group as well as of other foreign operators.