Trade between Algeria and France has been declining for the third year in a row, while Italy strengthens its position and Spain is close to surpassing France in the volume of trade with Algeria.
According to media reports, the value of Algerian-French trade fell from about 11 billion euros to less than 9 billion between July 2025 and July 2026, amid continued political and diplomatic tension between the two countries.
Algeria recorded a trade surplus of approximately one billion euros, driven by hydrocarbon exports, while several French exports declined, including agricultural and food products, iron and steel, spare parts and industrial equipment.
China is Algeria's top trading partner, with trade volume estimated at around $15 billion, followed by Italy at over $14.68 billion. Rome has benefited from strengthened political and energy cooperation with Algeria, particularly since 2022, when the latter increased its gas exports to Italy, along with rising exports of iron, steel, fertilizers, cement, and chemicals.
In contrast, Algerian-Spanish economic relations are gradually improving after overcoming the political disputes that erupted in 2022. The volume of trade between the two countries reached about 8.5 billion euros in 2025, according to Spanish data, while Spanish exports to Algeria increased by more than 168% during the same year, making the trade difference between Madrid and Paris less than half a billion euros, according to the figures.
According to Algerian media, the ongoing Algerian-French crisis, coupled with improved relations with Spain and a growing partnership with Italy, could reshape Algeria's trading partners in the coming years. The energy sector remains the most significant factor in these shifts, alongside Algeria's drive to diversify its markets and economic partners.
