Algeria imports 1.2 million tonnes wheat

Algeria, one of the world's leading grains importers, purchased 1.2 million tonnes of wheat in the first quarter of 2004, a trade ministry official said on Tuesday.
"We imported 285,802 tonnes of durum wheat and 898,510 tonnes of soft wheat during the first three months," a trade ministry official, who asked to remain anonymous, told Reuters.
Comparative figures were not immediately available.
Algeria imports durum wheat from Canada, Mexico and Syria. Its soft wheat comes from France, Russia and the United States.
The North African country spends about $1 billion annually to fill shortfalls in production.
Last week state grains agency OAIC purchased 125,000 tonnes of optimal French of German wheat for June shipment. European traders also said last week that Algeria had bought between 200,000 and 300,000 tonnes of mainly French milling wheat this month.