ALGIERS: Algeria's grain imports were up by 1 million tonnes in the first four months of 2015 from a year earlier, due mainly to much higher purchases of soft wheat following a poor domestic harvest in 2014, official data showed on Sunday.

Imports reached 4.85 million tonnes, up from 3.84 million tonnes in January-April 2014, according to customs figures.

Soft wheat purchases were up at 2.12 million tonnes from 1.83 million tonnes for the first four months of last year, while durum wheat purchases increased to 681,159 tonnes from 594,783 tonnes.

Barley imports went up to 370,580 tonnes from 212,980 tonnes. Maize purchases reached 1.67 million tonnes, up from 1.2 million tonnes in January-April 2014, the figures showed.

Last year's domestic harvest declined to 3.4 million tonnes from 4.9 million tonnes in 2013 due to bad weather conditions.

Algeria is one of the largest grain importers in the world. The government has said it wants to try to reduce its huge import bill as a way to offset a fall in world oil prices, which has cut state revenues.

Copyright Reuters, 2015