New measures have been enacted in Algeria in the foreign trade sector. They concern the establishment of new regulatory bodies, the dissolution of ALGEX, and the introduction of new obligations relating to forecast programs as well as to the importation of goods and services.
Key points:
- Establishment of two new entities respectively dedicated to imports and exports.
- Dissolution of ALGEX, with the transfer of its assets and staff to the Algerian Export Authority.
- Mandatory submission of an import forecast program for the second semester of 2025 (for own operational needs), duly endorsed by the Ministry of Foreign Trade, as a prerequisite for any banking domiciliation and the opening of letters of credit.
- Prior authorization now required for any importation of services.
- Obligation to domicile the import forecast program for the second semester of 2025 with a single bank (except for large enterprises, subject to prior notification of the Ministry).
- Eligibility for goods imports limited to companies engaged in production or resale in the same condition, to the express exclusion of service providers.
Establishment of two new entities and dissolution of ALGEX
Pursuant to Executive Decrees No. 25-233, 25-234 and 25-235 of 3 September 2025, published in the Official Gazette on 7 September 2025, Algeria has undertaken a substantial reorganization of its institutional framework for foreign trade, marked by the establishment of two new specialized entities and the dissolution of the National Agency for the Promotion of Foreign Trade (“ALGEX”):
• Algerian Import Authority: Placed under the supervision of the Ministry of Foreign Trade, it is responsible for monitoring and regulating import operations, combating unfair business practices, managing databases on national market needs, as well as promoting purchasing centers. It also operates a digital platform interconnected with the relevant authorities.
• Algerian Export Authority: It is entrusted with implementing the State’s export promotion policy, including the possibility of establishing representations abroad under the name “Dar El Djazaïr.” A one-stop shop for exports has also been created within this entity, dedicated to the execution and completion of export-related procedures. Its purpose is to enable economic operators to complete all export formalities in a single location and within a minimum timeframe.
• Dissolution of ALGEX: The National Agency for the Promotion of Foreign Trade (ALGEX) has been dissolved, with its assets and staff transferred to the newly established Algerian Export Authority. As a reminder, since April 2022, ALGEX had been responsible for issuing unavailability certificates for goods intended for importation into Algeria for resale in the same condition. Such certificates constituted a prerequisite for authorizing imports and were aimed at protecting national production.
Tightening of banking and administrative formalities for imports
Alongside this institutional restructuring, new obligations have been introduced as of 9 July 2025, imposing additional requirements on economic operators:
• Import forecast program: With respect to imports carried out by economic operators for their own operational needs, banks must now require, prior to any domiciliation or opening of a letter of credit, the submission of an import forecast program for the second semester of 2025, duly endorsed by the Ministry of Foreign Trade. In the absence of such endorsed program, the foreign supplier cannot be paid in foreign currency.
• Prior authorization for the importation of services: Any importation of services is now subject to a prior authorization issued by the Ministry of Foreign Trade.
• Single banking domiciliation: Economic operators must now domicile their import forecast program—and thus their imports for their own needs—with a single bank, except for large enterprises, which may do so with several banks provided that the Ministry of Foreign Trade is duly informed in advance.
• Exclusion of service providers from eligibility for importations: Only companies whose activities relate to production or resale in the same condition are eligible for the importation of goods. Service providers are expressly excluded, and their forecast programs will not be endorsed by the competent ministerial departments.
To read the above article in French please visit: https://loucif.law/nouvelles-mesures-en-matiere-dimportations-et-dexportations-en-algerie/
Should you have any inquiries or require legal assistance in navigating this new bid round, Rym Loucif can be reached on rloucif@loucif-law.com and would be delighted to assist. Rym Loucif is a partner at Loucif+Co, https://loucif.law/en/, the LEX Africa member in Algeria.
