The food trade balance posted a deficit of 378.6 million dinars (MD) in February against 180.6 MD in the same period last year, the National Observatory for Agriculture (ONAGRI) said on Wednesday. The coverage rate stood at 74.6% against 83.3%. in 2021.
The share of the food trade balance deficit in the overall trade balance deficit increased by 4.9 percentage points compared to the same period last year, from 9.5% to 14.5%, indicates ONAGRI in its monthly note “Food trade balance until the end of February”. 2022.”
Food exports increased slightly by 23.9%, while imports increased by 38.2% in value. The deficit is essentially the result of an increase in the pace of imports of cereals (+32.0%), sugar (+236.5%) and vegetable oils (+119.6%) despite the increase in exports of olive oil (+48.9%).
The average export prices of olive oil improved significantly (10.79 DT/kg), representing an increase of 41.1% compared to last year. Citrus prices followed suit, posting an upward trend (+6.7%). Meanwhile, prices for peaches, tomatoes and dates fell 18.5%, 17.9% and 9.8% respectively.
Cereal import prices (durum wheat, soft wheat, barley and maize) increased by 34% to 97% compared to the previous year. Cereal prices increased by 97.1% for durum wheat, 44.2% for soft wheat, 57%) for barley and 34.2%) for corn.
These prices have increased slightly since July 2021. The impact of the Russian-Ukrainian war has yet to be felt, ONAGRI said.
Imports of meat, potatoes, sugar and vegetable oils increased significantly at the end of February. An upward trend was observed in the prices of vegetable oils (+95.3%), sugar (+83.3%), meat (+75%) and milk and derivatives (+23.5%). %),
