Algerian Radio
Starting July 1, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Export Promotion will implement a new regulatory framework designed to strengthen control over export and import operations, combat fraudulent practices, and improve the traceability of trade flows.
These measures, which align with the directives of the country’s high authorities to sanitize the national economic environment, were detailed this Monday by Samir Derradji, Director General of Export Promotion, during his appearance on the Algerian Radio Channel 3 program "L’Invité du jour" (Guest of the Day).
According to the official, "several administrative investigations and field inspections highlighted practices used to bypass regulations, which weakened control mechanisms, encouraged foreign currency leakage, and disrupted the normal functioning of the market." He added that "the administration is here precisely to plug any gaps in the regulations or any circumvention of them."
The First Measure: Exports of Fresh and Perishable Products
The first measure concerns "exports of fresh and perishable products." Until now, Derradji explained, "regulations granted these products a special status due to their nature and the need to transport them quickly to foreign markets. Exporters could thus proceed with shipment before completing certain formalities related to bank domiciliation. However, this system revealed several shortcomings."
"Perishable products allowed operators to export first and domicile later. They were given fifteen days to declare and domicile the product. Unfortunately, many of them never returned," Mr. Derradji explained. This situation made it difficult to track operations and monitor the repatriation of export earnings.
To end these malfunctions, the Ministry is now imposing a new rule. Any exporter of perishable products must present the domiciled invoice of the previous operation before being authorized to make a new shipment. "Starting July 1, every exporter of perishable products is required to present, before the second shipment, the domiciled invoice of the previous operation," the official specified. For the authorities, this measure is an essential traceability tool and a means of ensuring compliance with financial obligations related to exports.
The Second Provision: Exports Valued Under 100,000 Dinars
The second provision, Derradji added, "targets exports with a value of less than 100,000 dinars." Until now, these operations benefited from an exemption from bank domiciliation—a facility intended to simplify low-value trade. However, some operators reportedly exploited this provision to bypass control mechanisms.
Mr. Derradji indicated that exporters were splitting large transactions into a multitude of small-amount operations to escape domiciliation obligations and associated controls. "A large exporter could fragment their exports into several operations under 100,000 dinars and export without domiciliation," he highlighted.
To stop this practice, the concerned exports must now obtain prior authorization from the Ministry of Foreign Trade. According to Derradji, "this new requirement will allow the competent services to have full visibility over the operations carried out and prevent the diversion of regulations."
"We will have a right of oversight over these exports," the Director General explained, adding that the objective is "to prevent all forms of capital flight and ensure the effective repatriation of revenue generated abroad."
The Third Measure: Operations by Traders and Intermediaries
The third measure targets "operations carried out by traders or intermediaries who export products acquired from national producers," Derradji said. He emphasized that "while the authorities recognize the important role these operators can play in conquering foreign markets, they intend to put an end to the under-invoicing practices observed in certain sectors."
According to Mr. Derradji, "certain intermediaries export Algerian goods at artificially low prices, significantly lower than their real value." He stated, "They buy Algerian goods and export them at a truly derisory price. This is a form of capital flight and a drain on Algerian currency."
"This practice effectively keeps a significant portion of the revenue that should have been repatriated to Algeria abroad. To remedy this, the Ministry now requires prior validation of the price by the producer before any export operation carried out by an intermediary," Derradji further asserted.
"The exporter must absolutely have authorization from the producer—an authorization that validates the real price of the product," the official specified. This obligation will cover all exported products, whether agricultural, agri-food, or industrial.
The Fourth Measure: Imports for Resale As-Is
The fourth measure concerns "import operations intended for resale as-is." "The authorities now wish to have better visibility on the distribution circuits of imported goods to fight speculative practices and the imbalances observed in the national market," Derradji indicated.
In this context, every importer must provide the administration with a detailed plan specifying storage locations, distribution circuits, and the intended destinations for the imported goods. "From now on, it will be necessary to provide the itinerary of this merchandise. Where will it be sold? How will it be stored?" Mr. Derradji explained.
This measure was developed in coordination with the Ministry of Internal Trade and National Market Regulation. It aims to ensure a better distribution of products across every wilaya and the entire national territory, and to limit the phenomena of artificial shortages caused by certain operators. "The objective is not to lock down distribution but to regulate it," the official insisted.
A New Stage in the Modernization of Economic Governance
According to Derradji, "certain disruptions recorded in the market are linked to speculative behaviors consisting of voluntarily delaying the release of imported products or storing them while waiting for a price increase." He affirmed, "There are operators who simply store them and wait for prices to rise," citing automotive spare parts as one of the products concerned.
For Mr. Derradji, these combined provisions mark a new stage in the process of modernizing economic governance. "We are in a phase of supervision, regulation, control, organization, and sanitation of the national economy," he declared. The goal, according to him, is to strengthen transparency, secure financial flows, protect the national market, and create a healthier and more attractive economic environment for investors and foreign partners.
