17/06/2026 15:22 - Economia
Granos de maíz dorado cayendo sobre una balanza comercial, simbolizando el intercambio entre Argentina y Argelia
While millions of Argentines followed the debut of "La Scaloneta"—the nickname given to Argentina's national team under coach Lionel Scaloni—in the 2026 World Cup against Algeria, there's another playing field where both countries compete and cooperate: international trade. A relationship that reached US$ 1,170 million in 2025, positioning the African nation as the primary destination for Argentine exports on the African continent.
The trade exchange between Argentina and Algeria shows a marked imbalance in favor of the South American country. According to data from the Argentine Committee of the International Chamber of Commerce and the Rosario Stock Exchange (one of Argentina's most important agricultural commodity markets):
| Concept | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Argentine exports to Algeria | US$ 1,012 million | US$ 1,164 million |
| Imports from Algeria | US$ 131 million | US$ 118 million |
| Surplus for Argentina | ~US$ 881 million | US$ +1,000 million |
This surplus of over US$ 1,000 million makes Algeria one of the 20 most important markets for Argentine exports worldwide. In 2025, it ranked as Argentina's 18th largest export destination.
Argentina's export basket to Algeria is dominated by agri-food products. The African country imports a significant portion of the food it consumes and finds in Argentine production a strategic supplier.
#1 Corn
#2 Powdered Milk
Other Products
Algeria, which ranks among the top positions globally in hydrocarbon reserves, exports mainly energy and chemical products for the agricultural sector to Argentina.
| Population | ~47 million inhabitants |
| Surface Area | 2.38 million km² (largest in Africa) |
| GDP | US$ 267,000 million |
| International Reserves | US$ 57,000 million |
| Position in Africa | 4th largest economy on the continent |
In May 2026, Argentina's ambassador to Algeria, Atilio Berardi, met with Algeria's Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Yacine Mehdi Oualid, to deepen the bilateral agribusiness agenda. The agreements reached include:
"This meeting represents a new step in positioning Argentina as a key provider of food and agribusiness technology in Algeria and North Africa, in a context of growing demand for food security in the region", reported the Argentine Embassy.
Access to the Algerian market still faces limitations. Algeria is not a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and maintains high levels of tariff protection:
According to the Group of Southern Producer Countries (GPS), food demand in Algeria could increase by 22% by 2050. Meats, vegetables, and fruits would account for approximately 71% of future demand, reinforcing opportunities for Argentine agribusiness.
On June 16, 2026, Argentina made its World Cup 2026 debut against Algeria at Kansas City Stadium with a resounding 3-0 victory, including a hat-trick by Lionel Messi. While football captures global attention, the commercial relationship between both countries continues to grow: in the first quarter of 2026, Argentine agribusiness exports to Algeria already total more than US$ 960 million, consolidating the African country as one of the most important strategic partners for Argentine agriculture on the continent.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
