Algeria: sanctions and trade risk

No elevated indicator

As of 7 November 2026, the screened UN, EU, UK, Swiss and US sanctions lists contain 26 companies, organisations, vessels and aircraft linked to Algeria.Lists last checked 2026-11-07 21:01 UTC.

Logistics profile: ports, airports, customs, documents, holidays, news ↓

No elevated country indicator for Algeria in the route rules Sanctioni uses. That is not a clearance: goods may still be export-controlled, and parties in Algeria may still be on a list.

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On the sanctions lists

26 entries on the official lists name Algeria — as nationality, address, registration or flag. That links them to the country; it says nothing about other companies there. The same company can appear on several lists and is then counted once per list. Individuals are not included — Sanctioni does not process them.

List	Entries	Companies & organisations	Vessels	Aircraft
US OFAC — Specially Designated Nationals (SDN)	7	7	—	—
UN Security Council Consolidated List	5	5	—	—
UK Sanctions List (FCDO)	5	5	—	—
Switzerland SECO Consolidated Sanctions List	5	5	—	—
EU Consolidated Financial Sanctions List (FSF)	4	4	—	—

Latest changes

No new listings or removals naming Algeria recorded yet.

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Logistics profile

Algeria: logistics and trade

Energy exporter and North African port and import market

Algeria (DZ) is the largest country in Africa by area and a key energy and trade partner of the Mediterranean, located between Europe and sub-Saharan Africa with a long Mediterranean coast in the north and the vast Sahara in the south. Foreign trade is heavily state-regulated and dominated by hydrocarbons, which account for around 95 percent of exports (natural gas, crude oil, LNG and LPG, marketed through the state company Sonatrach). The competent customs body is the General Directorate of Customs (Direction Generale des Douanes, DGD), which has been progressively migrating clearance from the legacy SIGAD system to the new digital ALCES system since November 2023; import VAT is generally 19 percent (reduced 9 percent). Imports are subject to one of the most restrictive regimes in the region: a bank domiciliation must be in place before the goods are shipped, approval from the Ministry of Foreign Trade is required, and import forecast programmes apply at times. In 2025 an Algerian Import Authority and an Export Authority were created by decree, and since 1 January 2026 standalone service imports require prior authorization. In logistics terms sea transport dominates through the ports of Algiers (around 60 percent of container traffic), Skikda, Arzew, Bejaia, Oran, Djen Djen, Mostaganem and Annaba, while air freight runs through Algiers Houari Boumediene Airport (ALG), which handles more than 80 percent of air cargo. Inland, the East-West Highway and the Trans-Sahara Highway link the coast with the hinterland and towards Niger and Mali; the SNTF rail network is concentrated in the north. Algeria is not a WTO member but maintains an EU Association Agreement (Euro-Med, in force since 2005) and is a member of the Greater Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA) and a party to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The land border with Morocco has been closed since 1994. The national currency is the Algerian Dinar (DZD).

Capital: Algiers
Population: 46,500,000
Area: 2,381,741 km²
Currency: Algerian Dinar
Continent: Africa
Region: North Africa / Maghreb
Economic area: GAFTA; EU Association Agreement (Euro-Med); AfCFTA; not a WTO member
Religions: Islam
Access to the sea: Yes

Transport modes Sea · Road · Air · Rail

Current situation: Status as of 2026-07-23: transition of customs clearance to ALCES is ongoing; ALCES-APCS interconnection (port community platform) to reduce congestion is being implemented. Since 1 January 2026, standalone service imports require approval from the Ministry of Foreign Trade. Port of Algiers is chronically overloaded (shipping lines may apply congestion surcharges). Algeria remains a central EU gas supplier (Medgaz, Transmed).
Seasonal conditions: Mediterranean climate on the coast with mild, rainy winters; extreme heat and sandstorms in the southern Sahara. Heavy rain can cause flooding and road closures on the coast.

Main seaports

Skikda
Skikda (DZ SKI), Algeria's third-largest port: crude oil, gas, LNG and petrochemicals. For containers, use Algiers, Béjaïa or Oran instead.
Arzew
Arzew (DZ AZW) near Oran: a major Mediterranean energy port for LNG, LPG and ammonia, ~67M t/year, run by Sonatrach. Containers via Oran and Algiers.
Arzew El Djedid
Arzew El Djedid is Algeria's LNG, LPG, ammonia and crude oil export terminal near Oran. No container traffic; use Oran or Mostaganem for general cargo.
Bejaia
Bejaia (DZ BJA): Algeria's leading oil port with the BMT container terminal and the country's only dangerous-goods berth. Alternatives: Algiers, Djen Djen, Skikda.
Oran
Oran (DZ ORN): Algeria's second port, serving the west — containers, general cargo, grain, ro-ro. Hinterland, Arzew for oil/gas and alternatives.
Mostaganem
Mostaganem (DZ MOS): Algerian multipurpose port for grain, sugar, wine, containers and RoRo. 1.32M tonnes handled in 2023. Alternatives: Oran, Arzew.

Main cargo airports

Houari Boumediene AirportALG
Houari Boumediene (ALG): Algeria's main air-cargo gateway, home base of Air Algérie Cargo, freight handling by Swissport, linked to the Port of Algiers.
Oran Es-Sénia (Ahmed Ben Bella) International AirportORN
Ahmed Ben Bella Airport (ORN), Oran: western Algeria's main airport, Terminal 3 cargo hangars (15,000 t/yr), Swissport, near Oran and Arzew ports.
Mohamed Boudiaf International AirportCZL
Mohamed Boudiaf Airport (CZL), Constantine: eastern Algeria air link, Swissport handling, belly cargo with bulk freight routed via Algiers (ALG).

Road corridors

East-West Motorway (about 1216 km, Tunisian border - Moroccan border)
Trans-Saharan Route (Algiers - Tamanrasset - Niger / Mali)
Coastal axis RN11

Rail corridors

SNTF northern network (Annaba - Constantine - Algiers - Oran)
Rocade des Hauts-Plateaux (high plateau line)
Mining railway Gara Djebilet - Bechar (iron ore, under construction)

Main trade lanes

Algeria - Italy (gas)
Algeria - Spain (gas via Medgaz)
Algeria - France
China - Algeria
Algeria - Netherlands

Customs and import

Customs authority General Directorate of Customs (Direction Générale des Douanes, DGD)Official website ↗

Import customs system: ALCES (new digital customs system), gradually introduced since November 2023; replaces the legacy system SIGAD. Imports require bank domiciliation and approval from the Ministry of Foreign Trade.
Export customs system: Export processing via the DGD (ALCES or SIGAD). Hydrocarbon exports are run by the state via Sonatrach. In 2025, an Algerian export authority was created by decree.
Import VAT: 19 percent (standard rate); reduced 9 percent
Proofs of origin and trade agreements: EUR.1 and EUR-MED under the EU Association Agreement (Euro-Med, since 2005); certificates of origin within the GAFTA area. Algeria is a GAFTA member and an AfCFTA State Party, but not a WTO member.
Restricted and prohibited goods: Strict import restrictions and temporary import bans to protect domestic production; authorization requirements for vehicles, medicines, weapons and CITES species. Currency and domiciliation rules of the Bank of Algeria.

Typical import documents

Commercial invoice
Packing list
Customs declaration (ALCES / SIGAD)
Transport document (B/L, AWB, CMR)
Bank domiciliation (engagement de domiciliation)
Certificate of origin (EUR.1 / EUR-MED) for preferential treatment
If applicable, import authorization from the Ministry of Foreign Trade

Typical export documents

Export declaration (ALCES / SIGAD)
Commercial invoice
Packing list
Certificate of origin
Transport document
If applicable, export authorization

Logistics conditions

Customs complexity: High
Customs delays: High
Dangerous goods relevance: High
Pharma and cold chain relevance: Medium
E-commerce relevance: Low to medium

Trade

Top import goods

Machinery
Electronics
Vehicles
Food
Pharmaceuticals

Top export goods

Natural gas
Crude oil
Petroleum products
Liquefied gas LPG/LNG

Typical cargo

Natural gas and LNG
Crude oil and petroleum products
LPG
Grain and wheat
Machinery
Vehicles
Pharmaceuticals

Upcoming public holidays

New Year's DayFri, 1 Jan 2027 · businesses closed
Yennayer (Amazigh New Year)Tue, 12 Jan 2027 · businesses closed
Labour DaySat, 1 May 2027 · businesses closed
Independence DayMon, 5 Jul 2027 · businesses closed
Revolution DayMon, 1 Nov 2027 · businesses closed

Logistics questions

Which authority is responsible for customs in Algeria and which system is used?

The General Directorate of Customs (Direction Générale des Douanes, DGD) is responsible. Since November 2023, it has been gradually switching its clearance from the legacy system SIGAD to the new digital system ALCES. Declarations are usually submitted through approved customs agents.

What is the import tax (VAT) in Algeria?

The standard VAT rate is 19 percent, and the reduced rate is 9 percent (including for basic foodstuffs, among others). Import tax is levied at customs on the basis of CIF value plus customs duty.

What is bank domiciliation and why is it important for imports?

Importers must complete a domiciliation procedure with an Algerian bank before the goods are shipped, and must first obtain approval from the Ministry of Foreign Trade. Without completed domiciliation, payment and customs clearance are not possible; in some cases, an account coverage well above the import value is required.

Is Algeria a member of the WTO or the EU?

Algeria is not a WTO member; its accession process has been ongoing since 1987. An Association Agreement with the EU has been in place since 2005 (Euro-Med). Algeria is also a member of the Greater Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA) and a State Party to the AfCFTA.

Which ports and airports are most important in Algeria?

The most important port is Algiers, handling about 60 percent of container traffic, followed by Skikda, Arzew (oil and LNG), Bejaia, Oran and Djen Djen. In air cargo, Algiers Houari Boumediene Airport (ALG) leads, handling more than 80 percent of air cargo volume.

Which documents do I need for importing into Algeria?

Commonly required are the commercial invoice, packing list, customs declaration (ALCES or SIGAD), a transport document (B/L, AWB or CMR) and proof of domiciliation. For preferential treatment, a certificate of origin such as EUR.1 is also needed; for controlled goods, an import authorization is required.

Is the border with Morocco open?

No. The land border with Morocco, about 1400 km long, has been closed since 1994. Trade between the two countries therefore does not take place over the direct land route, but via sea and air connections.

Full logistics profile on Freight Academy ↗