The first consignment of 6,560 sheep imported from Romania reached Béjaïa Port this Tuesday. Carried by a vessel that berthed overnight on Monday, March 30, it launches a sustained influx of shipments intensifying through March and April, wrapping up around May 15.
Imports from Romania and Spain form part of the government’s plan to balance livestock markets ahead of Eid al-Adha, slated for late May. These loads are earmarked to build reserve stocks for the festival’s sacrificial rites.
A wilaya-level task force managed the process, drawing in veterinary teams, trade regulators, Béjaïa Port authorities, the Algerian Meat Company, and security units. Once offloaded, the animals were routed to a certified holding facility in Amizour for monitoring prior to sale. Every sheep undergoes individual checks upon landing to detect any illnesses.
Persistent price spikes in prior years, coupled with protecting domestic herds, have spurred authorities to import one million sheep again. Béjaïa Port serves as a crucial logistics hub. President Tebboune’s order seeks to rein in trader profiteering, enabling Algerian households to purchase sheep at “reasonable” prices of 45,000-65,000 DA depending on weight—well under previous highs exceeding 100,000 DA and hitting 150,000 DA in places.
This one-off, interim action relieves pressure on dwindling local stocks while shielding family budgets. The boosted supply promises a marked drop in sheep prices.