(3 Minutes Read)
For years, Algeria’s sugar industry ran on an old playbook: import raw cane sugar, refine it locally, and meet domestic demand with global supply chains. It worked—until it didn’t. Reliance on imports left the country exposed to volatile prices and unpredictable markets. But now, quietly and strategically, Algeria is rewriting that script.
Algeria has long refined far more sugar than it actually consumes. Its capacity exceeds 3 million tons a year, while domestic consumption is only around 1.3 million tons. Industry giants like Cevital and Madar dominate refining, processing millions of tons annually. But all that capacity relied heavily on raw sugar imports. It was a system that looked strong on paper—but underneath, it was vulnerable. So the country began asking a different question: What if we grow our own?
The answer came in the form of sugar beet cultivation—a crop far better suited to Algeria’s dry southern lands than sugarcane. In the Ouargla region, near Hassi Messaoud, a major pilot project is already underway. In Gassi Touil, a 40-year concession spanning 11,000 hectares is being transformed into a high-tech agro-industrial sugar complex.
Progress so far:
- 1,000 hectares already planted using pivot irrigation.
- Yields are strong—averaging 90 tons per hectare, with some plots exceeding 100.
- Sucrose content ranges from 16–23%, well within industrial targets.
- Sugar extraction rates are at 12–15%—competitive by global standards.
Even at this early stage, these fields can produce up to 13,500 tons of sugar. Once scaled to full capacity, that number could jump to 120,000–150,000 tons a year—a serious chunk of Algeria’s sugar needs covered by its own soil.
Backing this transition is a USD 600 million investment (over 80 billion dinars), focused on creating a fully integrated beet-to-sugar ecosystem. This means every piece is connected—from seed selection and planting to processing, logistics, and energy management. Energy is a huge factor here. Southern Algeria’s harsh climate demands smart irrigation, efficient cooling, and sustainable processing. So the project is exploring solar and hybrid energy solutions to cut costs and lower emissions.
This isn’t just about growing more beets. It’s about building a resilient, circular economy where agriculture, industry, and energy support one another.
Algeria’s new sugar strategy is already reaching beyond its borders. In 2025, the country inked a major export deal with Libya: 360,000 tons of refined sugar, shipped across 12 cargoes, worth around USD 180 million. While these exports still rely largely on imported raw sugar for now, the deal shows Algeria’s industrial strength—and hints at future export potential from local beet-based production.
The total trade package, including other goods like construction materials, hit USD 231 million—proof that sugar can be more than just a commodity. It’s becoming a diplomatic and economic tool.
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Algeria’s sugar beet push isn’t just about replacing imports. It’s a model for national resilience, rural revitalization, and agri-industrial integration. With strong political backing, serious investment, and a clear, phased strategy, Algeria is laying the groundwork for something bigger: a blueprint that other North African nations could follow.
Because food security isn’t just about growing crops—it’s about connecting dots. Agriculture, industry, energy, logistics, and governance must work in sync. And in this interconnected system, sugar—once a symbol of import dependence—may become Algeria’s most powerful symbol of sovereignty and strength.
