Algeria has launched a plan to import 3.5 million rubber tires by the first quarter of 2027. This initiative aims to stabilize domestic supplies and meet the growing market demand.

According to local Algerian media reports, Minister of Fuel Mohamed El-Khabou recently stated that the government has initiated this tire import program. By the first quarter of 2027, the country plans to import 3.5 million rubber tires to ensure stable supply and meet the increasing market demand.

El-Khabou made this statement while visiting the booth of state-owned company Nafthar at the “Africa and Mediterranean Energy and Hydrogen Exhibition and Forum (NAPEC 2026)”. He mentioned that import efforts have already begun, with about 1 million tires imported over the past 8 months. Nafthar will continue to carry out this task.

This measure is taken against the backdrop of several months of supply shortages in Algeria’s tire market. The shortage led to significant price increases, resulting in a situation where tires are extremely hard to come by. The government’s decision to increase imports is seen as an important step to stabilize consumer demand and ensure continuous supply in the aftermarket for automobiles.

Nafthar is also adjusting its distribution system. In addition to expanding imports, the company has reorganized the circulation channels for tires, thereby reducing delays in delivery and preventing middlemen from raising prices. To this end, after the second round of international bidding, Nafthar has selected 13 foreign suppliers and expanded its delivery network, especially for orders placed through digital platforms.

It is understood that Nafthar’s online sales platform has become an important tool for ensuring tire supply. Consumers can place orders directly via the internet, which helps standardize the sales process, reduce the involvement of middlemen, and improve price transparency. As these measures are implemented, Algeria’s daily tire supply has increased to about 6,000 units, showing significant improvement compared to before.

In terms of market size, data from Nafthar shows that Algeria’s annual demand for tires is about 6.5 million units, while local production capacity is only 3.8 million units per year. This means that local production can only meet about 58% of the annual demand. Therefore, imports remain a key method to fill the gap and maintain continuous market supply. It is reported that “production capacity” here does not necessarily correspond to actual factory output, and not all of it goes into the domestic market.

Regarding prices, the market price of tires in Algeria has decreased. It is reported that tire prices once rose to about 24,000 dinars per unit, but now they have dropped to about 13,000 dinars per unit, a decrease of nearly 46%. Oil prices have also decreased, from about 14,000 dinars to about 8,000 dinars.

Algeria’s current strategy involves combining local production, imports, and streamlining distribution channels, aiming to avoid further imbalances in supply. Besides Nafthar, other domestic industrial companies like Iris Tire Factory are also important sources of supply. According to El-Khabou, about 1 million tires have been imported over the past 8 months. The goal is to increase imports to 3.5 million units by the first quarter of 2027, thereby supporting the stability of the entire market.

Conclusion

Algeria is working hard to ensure “supply stability” and “decentralization” in the aftermarket for automobiles. This indicates that there is a growing demand for cost-effectiveness, orderliness in circulation, and price stability. If the supply of accessories, tires, and lubricants remains stable, then the after-sales service for used vehicles will be more manageable. However, market demands for compliance with price regulations are likely to continue to rise.

Source: Guangdong HaoChe

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