Maritime Strategy Secures New Global Trade Partners

Algeria has deployed an agile maritime export strategy to navigate global supply chain reorganizations and geopolitical tensions affecting navigation in key areas. Between January and the end of September 2026, the national company executed nine exceptional shipments, totaling 3.4 million barrels of petroleum products. These volumes were directed to unusual destinations, effectively serving as safety valves for eight countries seeking to diversify their supply sources.

This strategic redirection has reactivated several maritime axes, bringing new partners into Algeria's trade network. The Sultanate of Oman, for instance, received 1.4 million barrels in September 2026, marking its second such operation in many years and securing direct supplies from the Mediterranean. Indonesia made a significant return to the Algerian market, receiving two exceptional shipments totaling 960,000 barrels, its first since June 2022. Similarly, Bulgaria imported over 256,000 barrels in May, ending a nearly six-year commercial hiatus, while the United States absorbed a 313,000-barrel cargo in August 2026, an unprecedented event since March 2023. These operations have also enabled Algeria to act as a stabilizer for its African and Mediterranean neighbors, with Libya, Taiwan, Egypt, and Guinea receiving various shipments, many marking their first imports from Algeria in years.

While the overall average daily export volume of petroleum products saw a slight decrease to 298,000 barrels per day during the first nine months of 2026, down from 310,000 barrels per day in 2025 due to reduced purchases from historical clients like South Korea and the United States, Algeria is compensating through increased European demand. Belgium's average daily imports rose to 26,000 barrels, up from 22,000 in 2025, and France consolidated its position with 19,000 barrels per day. Japan maintained its strong presence in the top three with a consistent average of 28,000 barrels per day. This new dynamic also aims to enhance Algeria's refining capabilities by focusing on the export of higher-value finished products.