Potato seed cargo lands at Mostaganem port

A cargo ship carrying 3,220 tonnes of potato seed unloaded at Mostaganem port on Tuesday, Algérie 360 and Algérie Eco reported.

The ship, BOYANG CAPELLA, berthed at berth 07 on the south-west quay. The unloading went well, the Mostaganem Port Company (EPM) said.

This is the first delivery in a wider programme run at national level, which opens the import campaign for the 2026/2027 farming season.

Before the ship arrived, the port company held a meeting with shipping agents and other operators to plan the new season's logistics.

Seed must reach growers before planting starts, or the whole cycle is delayed. A delay at this stage would reduce the volumes available to retailers several months later, because each harvest depends on the one before.

Since late October, several wilayas have had supply problems, with a kilo of potatoes sometimes reaching 150 dinars (DZD). The official price limit is 90 dinars.

In October, the government announced tougher checks on distribution channels, with emergency measures against speculation and price rises.

Consumer representatives point to hidden storage in unregistered warehouses, a rise in the number of middlemen and the gap between two harvests.

Control teams have increased their checks. In El M'Ghair, 15 quintals were removed from sale in early November because they were offered outside the official price scale.

The traders concerned have been summoned.

Earlier, 3.5 tonnes of potatoes were seized at the Boumerdès wholesale market for not respecting prices. Inspectors focus on wholesale markets.

Other ships are announced for the coming weeks.