The Port of Vigo, a key maritime hub in Galicia, has seen a significant shift in its foreign trade dynamics in 2025. For the first time, Algeria has emerged as the leading destination for its exports, surpassing traditional European partners. This change is driven by the booming automotive industry and the establishment of Stellantis in Oran.
According to the Spanish newspaper Atlántico, trade with Algeria was minimal in 2022, with 198 commercial operations totaling €14,500. By January to July 2025, that figure has surged to 574,000 operations and €273 million. The automotive sector dominates this growth, with €155 million in parts and components shipped from Vigo, accounting for nearly a third of the total.
Stellantis Plant Fuels Trade Shift
The momentum stems from Stellantis’s Tafraoui plant, operational since 2023, which assembles several Fiat models under the company’s “Middle East & Africa” strategy. This Algerian facility serves as an industrial bridge between Europe and Africa. The Port of Vigo, where Stellantis maintains significant logistics capacity, now connects Galicia to Kénitra, Port-Saïd, and Bursa, enhancing regional trade networks.
Historically focused on fishing and shipbuilding, the Galician port is undergoing an industrial transformation. Increased trade with the Maghreb is offsetting a slowdown in exports to the United States, hampered by tariff disputes.
A Deeper Mediterranean Trade Evolution
Algeria’s rise in Vigo’s foreign trade reflects a broader shift across the Mediterranean. Industrial production is increasingly moving south, while logistics remain centered in Europe. This quiet but steady trend underscores the growing integration of North African economies into European value chains.
