Yogurt Cup Production Machine for Algeria Market

Algeria's food and beverage packaging market is valued at approximately USD 2.5-3.2 billion, with dairy packaging representing one of the fastest-growing segments at 5-7% annual growth. The country's 45 million population, with a median age of 28 years, drives strong demand for convenient single-serve dairy products. Major dairy brands include Soummam (market leader), Danone Djurdjura, Hodna, Trèfle, and Tifra Lait, collectively operating over 80 dairy processing facilities. Algeria imports approximately 65-70% of its plastics processing equipment, with Chinese machinery gaining significant market share since 2015 due to competitive pricing and effective after-sales networks. The government's 2020-2024 industrial development plan targets increased local manufacturing of packaging materials, reducing reliance on imported finished packaging. Annual PP resin consumption for packaging applications exceeds 180,000 metric tons, sourced primarily from imports through Algiers, Oran, and Bejaia ports.

Injection molding machines enter Algeria under HS code 8477.10.00 with import duty of 5% and 19% VAT. Algeria requires Conformity Assessment certification (CONEK) for imported industrial machinery. Food contact packaging must comply with Algerian standard NA 773 (equivalent to EU Regulation 10/2011) and obtain ONML (Office National de Métrologie Légale) certification. PP resin for food contact must demonstrate overall migration below 10 mg/dm2 per EN 1186 test methodology. Import procedures require a domiciliation bancaire (bank domiciliation) through an Algerian bank for all commercial transactions. Letters of credit are the standard payment instrument for Algerian imports, typically irrevocable and confirmed through international banks. HWAMDA maintains banking relationships compatible with Algerian LC procedures through Bank of China international divisions. Customs clearance at Algiers port typically takes 7-15 business days, with an additional 3-5 days for CONEK certification verification.

For the Algerian yogurt cup market, HWAMDA recommends the HMD 270M8-SPV (2,700 kN) for startup and mid-volume operations, and the HMD 400M8-SPV (4,000 kN) for high-volume production. The HMD 270M8-SPV provides 368 mm/s injection speed with a compact 6.2 x 1.7 x 2.4 m footprint. Both machines are configured for 380V/50Hz (Algerian standard) with French-language INOVA controller interface support. The mold specification for Algerian 125 ml yogurt cups uses 2344 (H13) steel with 4 or 8 valve gate hot runner drops, producing cups at 65-80 mm diameter, 55-65 mm height, and 4.5-5.5 g part weight. IML automation uses SWITEK SW8 robots with cycle times under 3 seconds for label placement and part extraction. Auxiliary equipment includes industrial water chillers rated for North African ambient temperatures up to 45 degrees Celsius (XC-LF10A at 32.1 kW for 270T, XC-LF15A at 51.7 kW for 400T) and vacuum hopper loaders for automated PP resin feeding.

A complete 4-cavity yogurt cup line for Algeria includes: HMD 270M8-SPV ($55,000-70,000), 4-cavity IML mold ($12,000-18,000), SWITEK IML robot ($15,000-20,000), chiller and auxiliaries ($5,000-8,000), and shipping plus certification ($6,000-10,000). Total investment: $93,000-126,000. Operating at 4 cavities, 4.0-second cycles, and 85% OEE, annual output reaches approximately 20 million cups. Using imported PP at $1,100-1,300/MT and 5 g per cup, material cost is $0.0055-0.0065 per cup. With Algerian subsidized industrial electricity at $0.03-0.04/kWh and competitive labor rates, total production cost is approximately $0.009-0.012 per cup. Algerian wholesale yogurt cup prices range from DZD 3-5 ($0.022-0.037), yielding gross margins of 55-70%. Algeria's protective tariffs on finished packaging imports (up to 30%) create a favorable environment for local production. Payback period is estimated at 14-22 months depending on utilization rate and sales channel development.