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Housing construction in Algeria is unique in the world, characterized by the exclusive use of purely local products. This has been a key priority for the country's current president, who made it a focus when he was the Minister of Housing. The ambitious goal has been realized, as demonstrated by the recent distribution of over 250,000 housing units, which he initiated during the celebration of the 62nd anniversary of Independence and Youth. This initiative is unmatched by any other country. The operation was launched with the inauguration of the Othmane Belouizdad city (named after a member of the historic group of 22 who prepared for the start of the national liberation war) in the new city of Sidi Abdellah, which includes more than 13,000 housing units. This urban hub was completed in a record time of three years, showcasing considerable expertise with 100% Algerian construction materials. This includes woodwork, aluminum joinery, locks, tiles, and particularly cement, whose production has surged since Abdelmadjid Tebboune took office.
Algeria has successfully shifted from being a cement importer to an exporter, significantly boosting non-hydrocarbon exports. The figures speak for themselves. Algerian cement exports, which were just $60 million in 2019, skyrocketed to $747 million in 2023. This performance was highlighted during the 26th edition of the International Building, Construction Materials, and Public Works Exhibition (Batimatec 2024), held at the Exhibition Palace (Pins Maritimes) from May 5 to 9. The event, which attracted nearly 300 foreign exhibitors from fourteen countries, is considered the flagship event for the construction and public works sector.
This provided an opportunity for the Minister of Commerce and Export Promotion to review this promising sector. "The national production capacities of Algeria's 18 cement plants reached 39 million tonnes in 2022, far exceeding the local market needs estimated at 21 million tonnes," stated Tayeb Zitouni. Algeria is the second-largest global exporter of clinker (a product used in cement manufacturing) after Vietnam, with a total value estimated at $438.48 million. The minister emphasized the need to transition from exporting clinker as a raw material to exporting cement to increase added value. Algeria surpasses France ($172 million), Italy ($113 million), and Belgium ($89 million) in this regard.
It's important to recall that the boom in cement exports followed President Abdelmadjid Tebboune's decision in 2020 to ban the importation of locally produced materials, which energized the construction materials sector overall. In 2023, Algeria exported construction materials worth $1.2 billion to various countries worldwide, according to figures presented by the current Minister of Commerce, who noted that Algeria was once an importer of all types of construction materials (tiles, woodwork, cement, etc.). It now ranks third as the main exporter of construction materials to the African market, with exports estimated at $680 million. The national cement industry is undoubtedly thriving. Significant progress has been made since the first sales abroad in May 2018 by the Algerian Cement Industrial Group (Gica) to Europe. Supported by major housing and public works projects, the construction materials sector has made remarkable strides over 62 years of independence, achieving not only self-sufficiency but also exporting to African, European, and American markets.