Les volumes chutent de 16 % au premier trimestre

Volumes drop by 16 % in the first quarter

Exports excluding hydrocarbons

The National Statistics Office (ONS) reported a decline in exports to 1,517.9 billion dinars, against 1,610.6 billion in 2024 during the first three months of the current year. “In the first quarter of 2025, external exchanges were marked by a drop in prices, both exporting and importing,” notes the ONS in its report. Specifying that export prices fell 1.8%, while imports dropped by 4.6% compared to the first quarter of the previous year.
This price trend, underlines the same source, contrasts with that of volumes, imports jumped by 25.2%, while exports experienced a decrease of 4.0%.
“This drop is explained by the fall in hydrocarbon prices (-2.5%), despite a slight increase in prices for non-petroleum products (+5.8%),” notes the same source. Finding that the volumes exported outside hydrocarbons have dropped by 16%, aggravating the global decline and reflecting the challenge of diversification in the face of fluctuations in global raw materials markets.
In the first quarter of 2025, the prices for exporting goods excluding hydrocarbons recorded an overall increase, affecting all of the product categories. Only exceptions: food products as well as drinks and tobacco, whose prices decreased by 16.8% and 2.3% respectively. Conversely, the same source continued, imports jumped at 1,787.2 billion DA, against 1,496.3 billion in the previous year, an increase of 19.4% in value and 25.2% in volume.
“Drinks and tobacco (+54.1%in value), mineral and lubricant fuels (+47.4%), have contributed to this increase, although certain sectors such as transport machines and equipment fell by 19.8%,” explains the office in its report. Noting that despite an overall price drop by 4.6%, the volume of imports increased, suggesting increased consumption or industrial needs. The trade balance indicates the same source, posted a deficit of 269.3 billion dinars in the first quarter of 2025. This reversal occurs after an excess period in 2024, the result of a deficit of 269 billion dinars. Compared in the first quarter of the previous year, where an excess of 114.3 billion dinars had been recorded, this situation is attributed to the simultaneity of a drop in exports and a rapid increase in imports.
“At the same time, the coverage rate experienced a clear degradation, going from 107.6% in the first quarter of 2024 to only 84.9% in 2025,” continued the same source. Finding that the terms of the exchange continued their improvement, standing at 133.0% in the first quarter of 2025 against 129.0% a year earlier, translating an increase of 3.1% of prices relating to exchange.
In the first quarter of 2025, added the same source, the total volume of imports recorded a marked increase of 25.2% compared to the same period in 2024. “This increase is explained by a significant increase in volumes in the majority of product categories”, notes the ONS in its report. Finding that despite an overall price drop by 4.6%, the volume of imports increased, suggesting increased consumption or industrial needs.
Rabah Mokhtari