Algeria Economic Statistics

Silvia Andreoletti

Silvia is a Reporter at Trade Finance Global. She is also currently finishing her BA in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at New College, Oxford, with a focus on financial markets, game theory, and international relations.

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Exporting to Algeria

Algeria’s biggest imports are food products (primarily grains, legumes, and dairy), plastics, and chemicals. Its top supplier is China, closely followed by France and Italy. As an important oil and gas exporter, Algeria also imports much of the machinery needed for gas drilling and processing. The industry has been expanding in recent years owing to increased demand from the European market after the start of the Ukraine war, leading to expanded demand for machinery. Algeria has a substantial trade surplus which is expected to stay constant or improve in the next years, especially if the hydrocarbons sector continues to benefit from public and foreign investment.

The Algerian economy is characterised by heavy bureaucracy and vested interests, and the country consistently scores lower than its neighbours in corruption and ease of doing business reports. The government has been attempting to diversify its economy and reduce unemployment by reducing imports and promoting non-hydrocarbon exports. Import substitution policies are meant to bolster domestic industries but instead severely reduce some import industries and lead to uncertainty and supply shortages. However, a change in leadership in 2020 has led to significant economic liberalisation and removal of restrictions, which could boost the long-term import climate.

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