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ALGIERS, Jan 21 (Reuters) - Algerian firm Cevital, the
biggest sugar refiner in North Africa, expects to more than
double sugar exports this year to 1 million tonnes after fixing
technical problems at its main transport hub, the owner and
chief executive said.
Issad Rebrab told Reuters that the privately held firm was
also planning to increase its sugar refining capacity to 2.6
million tonnes a year, from 2 million tonnes, by the end of this
year, and that it planned to open a refinery in Iraq.
Cevital had set itself the target of 1 million tonnes in
annual exports several years back, but it has been frustrated by
issues at Bejaia, the Mediterranean port east of the Algerian
capital, which is home to its sugar refineries.
"We have been exporting only 377,000 (tonnes) because of
loading problems at .. Bejaia. We have now resolved those
problems," Rebrab told Reuters on Saturday in an interview. "We
aim to export around 1 million tonnes this year."
"The production capacity of our sugar refinery in Bejaia is
currently 2 million tonnes per year. We plan to increase it to
2.6 million tonnes by the end of this year."
Cevital imports most of its raw sugar from Brazil.
Rebrab said the company's strategy was to focus on supplying
sugar demand in Algeria, which has a population of over 35
million, and to export any surpluses.
"We are exporting to around 28 countries including
Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Syria, India,
Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Tunisia and Libya," he said.
"We are also planning to set up a refinery in Iraq," Rebrab
said, without giving further details on the project.
(Writing by Christian Lowe; Editing by Alison Birrane)
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