Tires, coffee shortages in Algerian market underscore failing import restriction policies

Keen to save its hard currency reserves for tougher days, Algeria continues an unrelentless import restriction policy that resulted in severe shortages of key products with tires and coffee being the latest to join a long list of expensive and unavailable goods in the country.

Transport unions have rung the alarm bell as to the shortages of tires and the repercussions on transport prices as well as road safety.

Prices of coffee in coffeeshops rose in reaction to the shortages in the market in a country where coffee is the main drink.

This takes place as Algerian citizens normalize with the lack of basic goods, prompting them to stand in long queues across the country to buy milk, semolina or cooking oil.

Algeria has tightened its import restriction policies sensing tougher days as Saudi Arabia announces a plan to increase oil production and end the OPEC consensus aiming to maintain prices at the bracket of 85-100 dollars per barrel.

Tebboune spent his first term distributing oil rent to buy social peace at the expense of maintaining the country’s oil-dependent status quo.

Restricting imports is a cosmetic measure on the short term with dire consequences on the well-being of citizens and the well-functioning of the Algerian market.

Stockpiling and speculations are now rampant in the Algerian market in response to the scarcity of goods, which translates into double digit inflation.