Maghreb Edition

Algeria Rebounds as Spain’s Primary Gas Supplier as Bilateral Trade Spikes

Posted On 12 August 2025

Number of times this article was read : 563

Algeria’s role as Spain’s top natural gas provider is back in the spotlight. After a significant two-year diplomatic freeze, not only have trade relations surged, but Algeria has also re-established itself as Spain’s leading gas source.

According to data from Spanish operator Enagás, Algeria supplied 32.9% of Spain’s total gas needs in July 2025, amounting to 10,211 GWh. The vast majority of this was delivered via the Medgaz pipeline, which directly connects Algeria’s port of Beni Saf to the Perdigal Beach in the coast of Almería, Spain. The United States, by comparison, provided 20.6% of Spain’s gas, though this marked a sharp 55% increase from the previous month. For the first seven months of the year, Algeria holds a 32% market share, with the US at 28.9% and Russia also in the top three.

Trade Revives After Diplomatic Stalemate

This resurgence in energy exports is mirrored by a dramatic recovery in bilateral trade. From June 2022 to November 2024, diplomatic tensions over Western Sahara caused a near-total freeze in economic relations. As a result, Spanish exports to Algeria plummeted from €2.9 billion in 2019 to just €332 million in 2023.

However, since banking restrictions were lifted on November 6, 2024, trade has rebounded with remarkable speed. Between January and May 2025, Spanish sales to Algeria reached roughly €900 million, a staggering 162% increase compared to the previous year. In May alone, Spain’s exports to Algiers totaled €217 million, a significant leap from just €54.5 million in May 2024.

Sectors like ceramics have quickly regained lost ground. In the first two months of 2025, Spanish ceramic exports to Algeria reached €17.8 million, nearly equaling sales to Italy and more than doubling Turkey’s entire sales for 2024. The recovery also extends to the agri-food, chemical, machinery, and automotive industries.

Despite this commercial momentum, full diplomatic normalization between the two countries remains slow. Yet, as former Algerian ambassador Abdelaziz Rahabi pointed out, the flow of gas was never interrupted, even at the height of the crisis. This underscores a crucial point: the energy and commercial relationship between Algeria and Spain is a strategic pillar that endures even when political relations are strained. This reality is further highlighted by Algeria’s continued role as a key gas provider, consistently ranking among Spain’s top three suppliers month after month.

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Written by The North Africa Journal

The North Africa Journal is a leading English-language publication focused on North Africa. The Journal covers primarily the Maghreb region and expands its general coverage to the Sahel, Egypt, and beyond, when events in those regions affect the broader North Africa geography. The Journal does not have any affiliation with any institution and has been independent since its founding in 1996. Our position is to always bring our best analysis of events affecting the region, and remain as neutral as humanly possible. Our coverage is not limited to one single topic, but ranges from economic and political affairs, to security, defense, social and environmental issues. We rely on our full staff analysts and editors to bring you best-in-class analysis. We also work with sister company MEA Risk LLC, to leverage the presence on the ground of a solid network of contributors and experts. Information on MEA Risk can be found at www.MEA-Risk.com.