On August 3, 2025, Algeria’s Ministry of Foreign Trade and Export Promotion officially decided to release all imported goods that had been held at ports prior to that date.
The decision followed an inter-ministerial meeting co-chaired by Minister Kamel Rezig and Minister of Finance Abdelkarim Bouzard, with the participation of Abdelhafid Bakhouche, Director General of Customs; Omar Rekhache, Director General of the Algerian Investment Promotion Agency; Kamel Moula, President of the National Council for Economic Innovation; and representatives of the Central Bank of Algeria and the Association of Banks and Financial Institutions (Abef).
Implementation
On August 4, 2025, the Association of Banks and Financial Institutions (Abef) issued an official notice to all member banks, instructing them to process payments for imported goods that had been blocked at seaports, airports, and customs-controlled areas.
Previously, many imported shipments were held at Algerian ports after the government introduced a new regulation requiring businesses to submit a six-month import plan for approval by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Export Promotion before making payments and clearing customs.
Causes and Economic Impact
The rule, which took effect on July 1, 2025, created significant congestion at Algeria’s major ports as many companies failed to meet the new administrative requirements.
According to the Ministry, the measure was intended to increase transparency, improve oversight of import flows, and protect domestic production—key priorities for Algeria’s economic policy as it seeks to optimize national resourcesand reduce import dependency.
Conclusion
The release of backlogged goods marks a positive step by the Algerian government to alleviate business bottlenecks, stabilize supply chains, and strengthen trade operations amid ongoing global economic challenges.