PARIS: The volume of trade between France and Algeria has been declining amid competition from China, figures from Algeria’s National Centre for Statistics of the Customs Directorate revealed.
According to the centre, the value of Algeria’s imports from France fell by 12.12 per cent in 2016 to reach $4 billion compared to $5.43 billion in 2015.
Algeria’s imports from France continued to decline in 2017 by 14.14 per cent to reach $3.47 billion in the first ten months of 2017 compared to the same period in 2016.
Meanwhile, Algeria’s imports from China reached $8.41 billion in 2016 and $7.29 billion in the first ten months of 2017. Algeria mainly imports foodstuffs including hard wheat, pharmaceuticals, producer goods and vehicles from France.
The Algerian market was the most important outlet for French products before the government decided to open up to other countries, specifically China which has become Algeria’s main trade partner in recent years.
Algeria’s exports have also declined from $4.56 billion in 2015 to $3.42 billion in 2016.
French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to focus on enhancing economic relations between the two countries during his upcoming visit to the North African country.
