Algeria continues to restrict its imports. This time, the government has decided to no longer import new finished products from January 18.
According to a note from the Association of Algerian Banks and Financial Institutions (Abef), banks are no longer authorized to domicile import invoices for marble and ceramic products, in their final form.
This note shared on social networks is dated Thursday, January 18. The decision to no longer import these products was taken by the Ministry of Commerce, according to the Abef note which does not specify whether all ceramic products were affected by the ban, including cups and plates, or only those intended for construction.
Algeria bans the import of finished marble and ceramic products
This decision to ban the import of finished ceramic and marble products comes in a context where Algeria is trying to attract foreign investors and develop its national production, to reduce the cost of purchases abroad.
It also comes four days after the restoration of commercial relations with Spain after 19 months of rupture, following the diplomatic crisis that erupted between the two countries after the decision of the Spanish government in March 2022 to change its position on the conflict in Western Sahara by providing support to Morocco.
In response, Algeria recalled its ambassador to Madrid and decided to freeze the friendship treaty and trade with Spain. Last November, Algiers appointed a new ambassador to Madrid, which ended the diplomatic crisis between the two countries.
The lifting of the freeze on commercial relations with Spain was noted by Algeria’s decision to authorize the importation of certain poultry products such as chicks and agricultural inputs from this country.
Before the crisis of March 2022, Spain was one of the most important chicks suppliers to Algeria, but also of ceramics intended for housing construction.
During this crisis, Spanish ceramic producers in the Castellón region were hard hit by the loss of the Algerian market.
