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Algeria
TRADE
Algeria continued in 1992 to depend on hydrocarbons for approximately
95 percent of its export revenues. The government had hoped to
reduce such dependence by augmenting exports of nonhydrocarbon
goods, but rising exports of petroleum products and gas seem to
have foiled Sonatrach's efforts in that direction. Another distinguishing
feature of Algeria's foreign trade has been the major disruption
in trade patterns resulting from the erosion of its special relationship
with France. The changes are not considered to be permanently
devastating to trade, however. To cite one example: France's 81
percent share of Algeria's exports and 82 percent of imports before
independence dropped to 13 percent and 24 percent, respectively,
in 1977. By the late 1980s, however, the Algerian oil nationalization
crisis and France's earlier decision to import the bulk of its
crude oil needs from Saudi Arabia were swept aside by new economic
cooperation protocols between Algeria and France.
Data as of December 1993
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