Algeria has made significant strides in its oil export sector, shipping 9 exceptional cargoes of petroleum products by sea, totaling 3.4 million barrels, from January to September 2026. These deliveries catered to 8 countries, including Oman, Egypt, and Libya, as per data from the Energy Research Unit. This export surge occurs amidst geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, linked to the Iran conflict, which has caused major disruptions in maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for Gulf oil.
The export dynamics show that Oman leads as the top recipient of these rare shipments, with nearly 1.4 million barrels received in September 2026 alone. This marks the second such cargo to Oman in several years, following a modest expedition in December 2025, which was the first since at least 2017. Indonesia ranks second, having received two cargoes totaling 960,000 barrels: one in April with 199,000 barrels and another in August with 761,000 barrels. This signifies the first return of these flows to the Indonesian market since June 2022.
Other countries that have received Algerian oil products include the United States, which got a cargo of over 313,000 barrels in August 2026, the first since March 2023. Bulgaria imported more than 256,000 barrels in May, resuming its intake of Algerian products for the first time since September 2020. Additionally, Libya received a cargo of gasoline amounting to 251,000 barrels in April, marking the first such delivery since October 2024.
The list of recipients also includes new markets such as Taiwan, which imported 124,000 barrels in September, its first intake since July 2023. Egypt received over 44,000 barrels in June 2026, the first time since April 2020. Guinea also joined the list, with more than 24,000 barrels delivered in July, a first since January 2021. These deliveries indicate Algeria's expanding footprint in the global oil market.
On the other hand, regular importers of Algerian petroleum products show some variation in their rankings. South Korea maintains its position as the top importer, albeit with a reduced average of 61,000 barrels per day (bj) during the first nine months of 2026, compared to 86,000 bj in the same period of 2025. The United States follows, with an average of 58,000 bj, slightly down from 63,000 bj in 2025.
Japan ranks third among the biggest importers, with an average of 28,000 bj. Belgium and France follow, with Belgium importing an average of 26,000 bj, an increase from 22,000 bj in 2025, and France at 19,000 bj, up from 16,000 bj recorded the previous year. These figures reflect a dynamic shift in global demand for Algerian oil products.
Overall, Algeria's oil exports averaged approximately 298,000 bj during the first nine months of 2026, showing a slight decline from 310,000 bj in the same period of 2025. Despite this minor setback, the exceptional export volumes to new and strategic destinations underscore Algeria's resilience and adaptability in the face of global market challenges.
Key points
- Algeria exported 3.4 million barrels of exceptional oil products to 8 countries between January and September 2026.
- Oman and Indonesia were among the top recipients of Algerian oil products during this period.
- Algeria's average oil exports stood at approximately 298,000 barrels per day in the first nine months of 2026.
