North Africa’s Economy
Business: Morocco’s attraction to Chinese tea makes it its biggest customer
Moroccans love a good cup of tea. Mint tea is their favorite, and it is often prepared by first brewing green tea and then soaking mint leaves in it and adding sugar. Where does the green tea come from? China. This year, Morocco has become China's biggest destination...
Energy: Algeria’s Oil and Gas Ambitions in Niger Makes Trans-Sahara Pipeline More Likely
Algeria is making progress in convincing Niger and Nigeria to go ahead with the construction of the trans-Saharan gas pipeline. Two events emerged recently that created uncertainty and risk for this project. The shift from the Mohamed Bezzoum regime to the military...
Sahel: Tension over unfulfilled Niger fuel delivery to Mali
Niger is the new energy producing hub in the Sahel and as such, it is providing hope for other nations in the region that their energy problems would be reduced given Niger's hydrocarbon reserves. Niger already has a deal to supply Mali. But there has been a...
Flurry of Major Infrastructure and Energy Projects in West Maghreb
Algeria and Morocco are committing big investments in infrastructure and energy, from building new railroad networks and expanding highways, to creating electricity from renewable sources to boosting production of fossil fuel.
Egypt Gets Massive Injections of Cash, but Outlook is Still Shaky
By Arezki Daoud | LinkedIn | Egypt has many powerful allies, including those in the global financial sector. No one wants to see it collapse, so money is flowing in a-go-go. Despite a dismal economic performance, global rating agencies, which acknowledge that Egypt is...
Drought Disrupts Wheat Sector in Morocco, Uncertainty with French and Russian Supplies
Morocco’s wheat harvest this year is likely to fall below 2.5 million tons due to a debilitating and lasting drought that has affected much of the country. To put it into perspective, during the wet season, output can reach up to 10 million tons, according to Bloomberg. Industry analysts warn that grain production in Morocco this year will drop by 39% compared to the 2023’s harvest of 4.2 million tons.
Algeria’s strengthening EU gas market pushes Morocco to look for its own gas
Algeria was in the spotlight at the G7 summit in Bari in Italy in mid-June. New agreements have been signed with President Tebboun. To counter the strengthening Algerian strategy on the European gas market. Morocco is trying to develop its own gas fields.
Niger: Rebel group attacks pipeline, warns Chinese contractor to stay clear
The Patriotic Front of Liberation (FPL), a rebel group based between northern Niger and southern Libya, claims to have destroyed a section of Niger’s pipeline, and issued threats against the Chinese firm managing the project.
Sahel: French company Orano loses operating license of key uranium site in Niger
The Nigerien government revoked the operating permit for the Imouraren uranium mine from the French company Orano to assert sovereignty over its resources.
Tunisia’s weak economic performance compounded by late data releases
Tunisia’s political system is still compromised, but the economy is showing some signs of minimal recovery. However, one area that is contributing to the inability of decision makers to react to changes and challenges in the economy is the time it takes for economic data to be released.