Imports of construction materials to Algeria are restricted

As of 23/12/2014, the Minister of Housing, Urban Planning and Cities of Algeria issued ministerial instruction No. 1385/SPM/MHU/2014, which was distributed to various stakeholders in the Algerian real estate market, such as housing directors, public facilities directors, offices for real estate promotion and management (OPGI), among others.

In this instruction, and with the aim of promoting the local construction materials industry intended for housing construction and public facilities, imports of construction materials (ceramics, tiles, doors, skirting boards, sanitary ware, hardware, plastics, carpentry, and others) are limited in favor of local production.

In principle, private construction projects should not be affected by this measure.

Although it is not yet clear what specific measures will be implemented to enforce this limitation, as complementary information it should be highlighted that 30% of construction materials are imported even though they are actually manufactured (under the same conditions of quantity and quality) and are available locally.

It should be emphasized that this instruction affects only the public sector. The aforementioned ministry specifically urges project owners (maîtres d’ouvrage) and project managers of projects fully or partially financed by the state to take action and ensure the use of locally manufactured products and materials.