Algeria flag Algeria: Economic and Political Overview

Foreign trade figures of Algeria

Foreign Trade in Figures

Algeria has an open economy in which foreign trade represents 59% of GDP (World Bank). Natural gas and petroleum products account for nearly all exports: in 2022, hydrocarbons covered 89.8% of the total volume of exports (41% natural gas, 30.3% crude oil and 15.4% motor fuels). The remaining exports (10.2%) consisted of derivatives from the oil and gas industries (fertilizers, ammonia, oils from tar distillation), as well as agro-food products (dates, sugar). As per imports, four product groups contribute to over one-third of the total: food products (16%, primarily cereals and dairy); industrial equipment goods (10.9%); plastic products (7.3%); and electrical equipment goods (5.1% - data French Ministry of the Economy). According to the National Centre of the Trade Register (CNRC), in 2022 the number of exporters rose to 5,498 operators against 4,749 at the end of 2021.

Data from the French Ministry of the Economy show that France was the third-largest customer of Algeria in 2022, accounting for 10.5% of the total, behind Italy (32.3%) and Spain (12%); whereas China was the top supplier with a market share of 18.6%, followed by France (14%) and Italy (7.7%). To boost its foreign trade, Algeria signed several trade agreements, as well as  ratifying the Agreement on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in 2019 in Accra, Ghana. The agreement allows interested states to benefit from the progressive elimination of tariff barriers for a period of five years from its entry into force in July 2020. The agreement aims to free African states from dependence on the extraction of raw materials and promote inter-African trade.

While the trade balance was historically positive, the surplus has vanished completely since late 2012 and the country has had a trade deficit since 2014. This reduction was due to a sharp fall in hydrocarbon exports. Incomes have also decreased drastically with the fall of oil prices. Nevertheless, such a trend reversed in 2021 thanks to the uptick in energy prices and it improved further in 2022 as Algeria benefited from the consequences of the EU sanctions towards Russia, which led to an increase in European hydrocarbon imports from Algeria. Data from the World Bank shows that the country’s trade balance was positive by an estimated 11.6% of GDP in 2022. In the same year, exports of goods increased by 58% year-on-year, reaching USD 60.9 billion; whereas imports grew at a much slower pace (+4.1%, at USD 39 billion). In terms of services, the country exported the equivalent of USD 3.5 billion and imported USD 8.3 billion (data WTO). According to preliminary figures from the government, as of the end of September 2023, Algeria's hydrocarbon export revenues reached approximately USD 38 billion, with an average oil price of 82 dollars per barrel. In 2022, hydrocarbon export revenues were around USD 59.5 billion, with an average barrel price of 104 dollars.

 
Foreign Trade Values 20182019202020212022
Imports of Goods (million USD) 46,33044,63235,54737,46439,027
Exports of Goods (million USD) 41,79735,31221,92538,55860,924
Imports of Services (million USD) 11,8059,9397,4406,9398,290
Exports of Services (million USD) 3,2643,2392,9873,2223,584

Source: World Trade Organisation (WTO) ; Latest available data

Foreign Trade Indicators 20182019202020212022
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) 58.151.845.353.254.1
Trade Balance (million USD) -7,161-9,007-12,9921,23326,809
Trade Balance (Including Service) (million USD) -15,701-15,708-17,445-2,45222,441
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) -3.8-6.9-16.0-4.1-3.3
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) -3.7-6.1-11.313.40.0
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 32.229.127.926.522.4
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 25.922.717.526.731.7

Source: World Bank ; Latest available data

Foreign Trade Forecasts 20232024 (e)2025 (e)2026 (e)2027 (e)
Volume of exports of goods and services (Annual % change) -11.6-0.2-0.6-2.7-0.0
Volume of imports of goods and services (Annual % change) 14.39.18.34.41.6

Source: IMF, World Economic Outlook ; Latest available data

Note: (e) Estimated Data

 
International Economic Cooperation
Algeria is a member of the following international economic organisations: IMF, Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (ABEDA), Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD), ICC, Arab Monetary Fund (AMF), G-15, G-24, G-77, WTO (observer), Arab League, among others. For the full list of economic and other international organisations in which participates Algeria click here. International organisation membership of Algeria is also outlined here.
Free Trade Agreements
The complete and up-to-date list of Free Trade Agreements signed by Algeria can be consulted here.
 

Main Partner Countries

Main Customers
(% of Exports)
2017
Italy 16.0%
France 12.6%
Spain 11.7%
United States 9.9%
Brazil 6.0%
See More Countries 43.8%
Main Suppliers
(% of Imports)
2017
China 18.1%
France 9.3%
Italy 8.2%
Germany 7.0%
Spain 6.8%
See More Countries 50.7%

Source: Comtrade, 2023. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.

 
 

Main Products

35.2 bn USD of products exported in 2017
Petroleum gas and other gaseous hydrocarbonsPetroleum gas and other gaseous hydrocarbons 40.0%
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude 36.1%
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals (excl. crude); preparations containing >= 70% by weight of petroleum oils or of oils obtained from bituminous minerals, these oils being the basic constituents of the preparations, n.e.s.; waste oils containing mainly petroleum or bituminous minerals 18.3%
Oils and other products of the distillation of...Oils and other products of the distillation of high temperature coal tar; similar products in which the weight of the aromatic constituents exceeds that of the non-aromatic constituents 1.6%
Ammonia, anhydrous or in aqueous solutionAmmonia, anhydrous or in aqueous solution 1.0%
See More Products 3.0%
46.1 bn USD of products imported in 2017
Wheat and meslinWheat and meslin 3.9%
Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally...Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons, incl. station wagons and racing cars (excl. motor vehicles of heading 8702) 3.6%
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals (excl. crude); preparations containing >= 70% by weight of petroleum oils or of oils obtained from bituminous minerals, these oils being the basic constituents of the preparations, n.e.s.; waste oils containing mainly petroleum or bituminous minerals 3.5%
Milk and cream, concentrated or containing added...Milk and cream, concentrated or containing added sugar or other sweetening matter 2.7%
Medicaments consisting of mixed or unmixed...Medicaments consisting of mixed or unmixed products for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, put up in measured doses "incl. those in the form of transdermal administration" or in forms or packings for retail sale (excl. goods of heading 3002, 3005 or 3006) 2.5%
See More Products 83.8%

Source: Comtrade, 2023. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.

 
 

To go further, check out our service Import Export Flows.

 

Main Services

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, 2023. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.

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Latest Update: March 2024

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