weighted score 5.2 · nine dimensions
Country Risk Profile
Algeria
Sourcing risk, regulatory exposure and audit intelligence for Algeria-origin supply chains.
Forced & child labour
5
No systematic forced labour findings comparable to high-risk origins. Some child labour documented in agriculture and informal sectors. ILAB lists limited goods.
Worker rights & FOA
6
ITUC category 5 — no guarantee of rights. Independent unions face registration barriers. Strike action requires government authorisation and is frequently suppressed.
OHS & audit transparency
6
OHS standards in oil & gas sector are reasonable due to international operator involvement. Outside hydrocarbons, OHS enforcement is weak and independent audit access is limited.
Food & product safety
5
Food safety regulatory framework exists but enforcement capacity is limited. RASFF alerts for Algerian-origin products are relatively infrequent but product testing infrastructure is underdeveloped.
Environmental & regulatory
4
Gas flaring and hydrocarbon pollution are documented environmental concerns. Environmental impact assessment requirements exist but enforcement is inconsistent. No active EU IUU card.
Governance & anti-corruption
7
TI CPI 2024: 33/100. High perceived corruption. Public procurement opacity. Judicial independence limited. Bureaucratic gatekeeping affects foreign business operations.
Tariff & preferential access
3
EU Association Agreement (2005) provides preferential tariff access for industrial goods. Effective tariff exposure is low for covered categories.
Non-tariff barriers
5
Algeria periodically imposes import bans and local content requirements. Foreign exchange controls and import licensing create non-tariff friction. CBAM declarations required from 2026 for covered goods.
Supply chain traceability
6
Hydrocarbons traceability is straightforward (pipeline, LNG terminal). For non-energy goods, supply chain documentation and traceability infrastructure are weak. Multi-tier visibility is limited.
Labour & Social Risk
Labour & Social Risk
- Freedom of association
- Freedom of association is restricted in Algeria. Independent trade unions face legal and administrative barriers to registration. The ITUC Global Rights Index rates Algeria at category 5 (no guarantee of rights). Strikes require government authorisation and are frequently suppressed.
- Migrant worker issues
- Algeria hosts sub-Saharan African migrant workers, particularly in construction and agriculture, who face documented exploitation including wage theft, poor working conditions, and lack of legal protections. Periodic mass deportation campaigns have drawn international criticism.
- Oil & gas sector standards
- The hydrocarbons sector, operated primarily by Sonatrach and international joint venture partners (ENI, TotalEnergies, Equinor), maintains higher occupational health and safety standards than the broader economy. International operators apply their own OHS frameworks.
EU Regulatory Exposure
EU Regulatory Exposure
- EU Association Agreement
- The EU-Algeria Association Agreement (2005) provides preferential tariff treatment for industrial goods. Tariff exposure is relatively low for goods covered by the agreement, though Algeria has periodically imposed unilateral import restrictions.
- CBAM exposure
- Algeria exports fertilisers, cement, and aluminium to the EU — all CBAM-covered product categories. Algerian exporters will need to submit CBAM declarations from 2026, with carbon cost implications for energy-intensive production using natural gas.
- Governance & anti-corruption
- Transparency International CPI 2024: 33/100, indicating high perceived corruption. Public procurement opacity, bureaucratic gatekeeping, and judicial dependence on the executive are documented concerns for foreign businesses operating in Algeria.