Milk and cream market in Algeria

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2020, Algeria's milk and cream market volume grew from 3 342 thousand tons to 3 449 thousand tons. This increase was underpinned by sustained state subsidies for pasteurized milk in bags (LPS), which kept consumer prices low and stimulated demand. In 2019, the government reinforced price controls on production and distribution through Executive Decree No. 17-362, and updated these regulations again in 2020 to ensure stable supply.

Production dipped to 3 358 thousand tons in 2021 but recovered to 3 417 thousand tons by 2022. The recovery aligned with the official launch of a national herd reconstitution program aiming to import 400 000 dairy cows by 2024, alongside the announcement of a major 200 000 t/year powdered milk plant to be built in partnership with Qatar's Baladna. Throughout this period, the policy of administered prices for packaged milk continued to support consumption.

The market stabilized at 3 408 thousand tons in 2023. The national subsidy scheme was expanded to integrate local raw milk into the distribution system, while the price framework from the 2017 decree remained active. Additionally, the country's largest dairy plant, commissioned in 2021 with a capacity exceeding 1.2 million liters per day, enhanced production capabilities for both subsidized pasteurized and UHT milk.

Production milk and cream in Algeria

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of milk and cream, 2017-2020

World map of production of milk and cream, 2017-2020

Algeria's milk and cream production increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, production reached 3 449 thousand tonnes, showing little change from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, production declined by 6.8%, with a compound annual growth rate of 2.3%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2018 at 3 342 thousand tonnes, which represented the largest decline of 9.7%. The largest increase occurred in 2019, with production rising by 3.0%.

Annual dynamics of production in Algeria in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Exports milk and cream from Algeria

Exports in kind, t

The market exhibited significant volatility during this period. Exports reached their lowest point in 2017 and peaked in 2018, with a dramatic 2 510-fold difference between these years. In 2020, milk and cream exports from Algeria totaled 30.1 tonnes, marking a substantial 205.6% increase compared to 2019. The highest export volume was recorded in 2018 at 220.9 tonnes. The largest decline occurred in 2019, falling by 95.5%, while the largest increase was in 2018, surging by 250 900.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Algeria in kind, 2017-2020, t

Between 2017 and 2020, Mauritania accounted for 79.5% of Algeria's total milk and cream exports by volume, with the remaining exports distributed among multiple smaller trading partners.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Algeria in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

The market demonstrated considerable volatility throughout the observed period. Exports hit their lowest point in 2017 and peaked in 2018, with a 1 674-fold difference between these years. In 2020, the value of milk and cream exports from Algeria reached 31.3 thousand US dollars, representing a 164.3% increase from 2019. The maximum export value was recorded in 2018 at 108.1 thousand US dollars. The largest decline occurred in 2019, dropping by 89.1%, while the largest increase was in 2018, soaring by 167 287.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Algeria in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

From 2017 to 2020, Mauritania (54.3% of export value), Niger (18.9%), and Qatar (16.8%) were the largest contributors to Algeria's milk and cream exports by value, collectively accounting for 90.0% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Algeria in value, 2017-2020

Imports milk and cream to Algeria

Imports in kind, t

Market performance showed noticeable fluctuations during this period. Imports reached their lowest point in 2018 and peaked in 2019, with a 21-fold gap between these years. In 2020, milk and cream imports into Algeria amounted to 89.0 tonnes, reflecting a sharp 35.2% decrease compared to the previous year. The minimum import volume was recorded in 2018 at 6.7 tonnes, while the maximum was in 2019 at 137.3 tonnes. The largest decline occurred in 2018, falling by 88.8%, and the largest increase was in 2019, rising by 1 951.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Algeria in kind, 2017-2020, t

Between 2017 and 2020, Belgium (33.0% of import volume), Spain (26.4%), and the United States (26.0%) were the main suppliers of milk and cream to Algeria, together accounting for 85.4% of total imports by volume.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Algeria in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

The market displayed signs of volatility over the observed period. Imports were at their lowest in 2018 and reached their highest in 2019, with a 17-fold difference between these years. In 2020, the value of milk and cream imports into Algeria totaled 139.5 thousand US dollars, which is 57.0% lower than the previous year. The minimum import value was recorded in 2018 at 18.7 thousand US dollars, while the maximum was in 2019 at 324.3 thousand US dollars. The largest decline occurred in 2018, decreasing by 88.9%, and the largest increase was in 2019, jumping by 1 632.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Algeria in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

From 2017 to 2020, Spain (40.1% of import value), Belgium (27.2%), and France (17.2%) made the biggest contributions to Algeria's milk and cream imports by value, jointly accounting for 84.5% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Algeria in value, 2017-2020