
Algeria approaches record 5 million tons in strategic harvest for 2026
Algeria is set to conclude its 2026 cereal campaign with its best figures in seven years, with national production expected to reach approximately 5 million tons, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations FAO. This represents a nearly 30% increase compared to the five-year average and marks the highest production level since 2019. This agricultural improvement is accompanied by an anticipated decrease in wheat imports for the 2026/2027 season, highlighting the growing role of local production in meeting national needs. After several seasons impacted by climatic hazards, the 2026 season shows a recovery. The FAO estimates the harvest at 5 million tons, up from 4.2 million tons in 2025, an increase of 800,000 tons 19% in one year. This performance is primarily due to abundant rainfall starting in December 2025, which helped compensate for delayed sowing. The major cereal-growing regions in the East, such as Constantine and Skikda, received above-average seasonal rainfall between January and April 2026, bolstering dam reserves and irrigation access. While the FAO projects 5 million tons, the United States Department of Agriculture USDA offers a more conservative estimate of 4.65 million tons for 2026. This volume includes 3.2 million tons of durum and common wheat, a 7% increase year-on-year, and 1.35 million tons of barley, a 13% increase. The European Commission's early warning system JRC-MARS confirmed above-average vegetation mass in several wi



