TUNISIA – Tunisia’s Office des Céréales (ODC) has finalized the purchase of 125,000 tons of soft wheat and 100,000 tons of durum wheat during a tender on September 19, 2024, a strategic procurement aimed to ensure food security amid global grain market fluctuations.
The ODC purchased soft wheat from key suppliers, including Aston, which provided 25,000 tons at US$245.83 per ton, followed by similar offers at US$246.83 and US$247.83 C&F. Another supplier, Casillo, sold 25,000 tons at US$246.98 C&F.
For durum wheat, Casillo also dominated with sales ranging from US$338.68 to US$346.49 per ton, while Euroagricola offered 25,000 tons at US$336.5 C&F. The grain deliveries are scheduled for October to November, a move aligned with Tunisia’s ongoing efforts to maintain stable grain supplies.
The purchase comes after Tunisia’s data from the Cereals Office (OC) reported that cereal production experienced a significant boost in the marketing year (MY) 2023/24, with an impressive 25% increase compared to the previous season.
According to the OC, the country’s harvest has reached 660,000 tonnes, marking a substantial 130,000-tonne rise from last year.
The improvement in cereal output is especially notable given the ongoing drought that has persisted for over five years. Despite this challenging climatic context, the recent figures are a positive development for Tunisia’s agricultural sector.
Durum wheat leads the production tally, constituting 88% of the total cereal harvest with 578,000 tonnes. Barley follows with 8.7%, while soft wheat and triticale contribute smaller quantities.
Regional production highlights include the governorate of Beja, which has emerged as the top contributor with 27% of the total harvest. It is succeeded by Bizerte at 20% and Jendouba with 14%. Kairouan and Siliana round out the top five production areas.
Although the 25% increase is significant, Tunisia’s cereal production still falls short of the five-year average of 1.6 million tonnes. Furthermore, domestic production covers less than 20% of the national demand, at nearly 4 million tonnes annually.
Meanwhile, Tunisia’s olive oil exports have seen remarkable growth during the 2023/2024 campaign.
surged to $1.49 billion during the first ten months of the 2023/2024 campaign, marking a 61.7% increase compared to the previous year.
Export volumes reached 181,300 tons, with the average price per kilogram rising to US$8.22, a 56.7% increase. Organic olive oil exports contributed US$329 million at an average price of US$8.39 per kilogram. Key markets include Spain, Italy, and the United States
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