Algeria produces 20 million tonnes of cement surplus
Algeria's cement exports grew twelvefold in four years, reaching $747 million in 2023.
Algeria now produces nearly 20 million tonnes of cement annually as surplus, having shifted from its past import reliance. The nation's cement producers are targeting export markets across Africa, Europe, and the United States. However, ports and the new European carbon tax are hindering growth.
With an annual production capacity of approximately 41 million tonnes in 2024 and a domestic consumption of around 23 million tonnes, Algeria has a substantial exportable surplus. This excess cement is becoming a key element in the country's economic diversification strategy, contributing to non-hydrocarbon exports which reached $5.16 billion in 2025.
Cement and clinker exports have seen dramatic growth, rising from $60 million in 2019 to $747 million in 2023, a more than twelvefold increase. Algeria became the world's second-largest clinker exporter in 2023 and the top exporter in Africa and second in the Mediterranean, with France, Italy, and Belgium as key buyers.
Why it mattersAlgeria's cement industry is generating significant export revenue, contributing to the national economy and diversifying away from hydrocarbons.