Different speeds, different perspectives

With a total of 55 countries, Africa is characterised not only by its great cultural diversity, but also by a variety of different speeds – especially when it comes to economic development. This also applies to the five North African nations that we highlight in this issue: Egypt, Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia.

The only country in the region that seems likely to survive the pandemic without a recession is Egypt, but the other four nations are struggling with a range of problems, from a drop in tourist numbers to declining international demand for oil and gas. Some experts therefore advise giving North Africa a wide economic berth for the time being. The Bundesverband mittelständische Wirtschaft (BVMW) takes a different view. It sees five reasons why German companies should invest there: huge economic potential, infrastructure that meets international standards, a well trained and productive workforce, a good business environment and considerable tourism potential.

Marocco

Capital: Rabat
Inhabitants 2020: 36.9 Mio.*
Area: 446,550 km²
GDP/Kopf 2020: 3,158 US-$*

Main import goods 2019
as % of imports overall

1. Petrochemicals 10.5% 10.5%
2. Plant 10.2% 10.2%
3. Chemical products 10.2% 10.2%

Main export goods 2019
as % of exports overall

1. Food 20.0% 20.0%
2. Chemical products 16.3% 16.3%
3. Electronics 15.6% 15.6%

Main supplier countries 2019
in %

1. Spain 15.6% 15.6%
2. France 12.2% 12.2%
3. China 10.1% 10.1%
4. Germany 4.9% 4.9%

Main customer countries
in %

1. Spain 24.1% 24.1%
2. France 21.6% 21.6%
3. Italy 4.7% 4.7%
4. Germany 3.2% 3.2%

German exports to Morocco 2020
as % total exports

1. Vehicles and parts 18.7% 18.7%
2. Chemical products 15.1% 15.1%
3. Electronics 13.9% 13.9%

Germany‘s imports from
Morocco 2020
as % of imports overall

1. Food 27.8% 27.8%
2. Textiles/clothing 27.3% 27.3%
3. Electronics 16.2% 16.2%

SOURCE: alle GTAI 2021
*PROVISIONAL DATA , ESTIMATE OR PREDICTION

Algeria

Capital: Algier
Inhabitants 2020: 43.9 Mio.*
Area: 2,381,74 km²
GDP/head 2020: 3,263 US-$*

Main import goods 2017
as % of imports overall

1. Food 17.2% 17.2%
2. Plant 16.5% 16.5%
3. Chemical products 13.0% 13.0%

Main export goods 2017
as % of exports overall

1. Gas 40.0% 40.0%
2. Crude oil 36.1% 36.1%
3. Petrochemicals 18.3% 18.3%

Main supplier countries 2017
in %

1. China 18.1% 18.1%
2. France 9.3% 9.3%
3. Italy 8.2% 8.2%
4. Germany 7.0% 7.0%

Main customer countries 2017
in %

1. Italy 16.0% 16.0%
2. France 12.6% 12.6%
3. Spain 11.7% 11.7%

German exports to Algeria 2020
as % total exports

1. Vehicles and parts 18.7% 18.7%
2. Chemical products 15.1% 15.1%
3. Electronics 13.9% 13.9%

Germany‘s imports from Morocco 2020
as % of imports overall

1. Crude oil 58.7% 58.7%
2. Petrochemicals 36.4% 36.4%
3. Chemical products 2.5% 2.5%

SOURCE: alle GTAI 2021
*PROVISIONAL DATA , ESTIMATE OR PREDICTION

Tunisia

Capital: Tunis
Inhabitants 2020: 11.8 Mio.*
Area: 163,610 km²
GDP/head 2020: 3,323 US-$*

Main import goods 2019
as % of imports overall

1. Chemical products 11.6% 11.6%
2. Electronics 9.6% 9.6%
3. Textiles/clothing 9.3% 9.3%

Main export goods 2019
as % of exports overall

1. Electronics 21.5% 21.5%
2. Textiles/clothing 17.6% 17.6%
3. Chemical products 7.5% 7.5%

Main supplier countries 2019
in %

1. Italy 15.4% 15.4%
2. France 14.2% 14.2%
3. China 9.5% 9.5%
4. Germany 6.8% 6.8%

Main customer countries
in %

1. France 29.1% 29.1%
2. Italy 16.2% 16.2%
3. Germany 12.8% 12.8%

German exports to Tunisia 2020
as % total exports

1. Vehicles and parts 18.7% 18.7%
2. Chemical products 15.1% 15.1%
3. Electronics 13.9% 13.9%

Germany‘s imports from Tunisia 2020
as % of imports overall

1. Electronics 44.7% 44.7%
2. Textiles/clothing 25.5% 25.5%
3. Shoes 6.9% 6.9%

SOURCE: alle GTAI 2021
*PROVISIONAL DATA , ESTIMATE OR PREDICTION

Libya

Capital: Tripolis
Inhabitants 2020: 6.7 Mio.*
Area: 1,759,540 km²
GDP/head 2020: 3,281 US-$*

Main import goods 2021
as % of imports overall

1. Plant/transport goods 53.5% 53.5%
2. Raw materials 16.0% 16.0%
3. Food/livestock 11.2% 11.2%

Main export goods 2017
as % of exports overall

1. Hydrocarbons 95.0% 95.0%
2. Other 5.0% 5.0%

Main supplier countries 2017
in %

1. Eurozone 20.7% 20.7%
2. China 13.5% 13.5%
3. Turkey 11.3% 11.3%

Main customer countries 2017
in %

1. Italy 19.0% 19.0%
2. Spain 12.5% 12.5%
3. France 11.0% 11.0%
4. Germany 8.6% 8.6%

German exports to Libya 2020
as % total exports

1. Plant 23.1% 23.1%
2. Chemical products 18.1% 18.1%
3. Food 15.3% 15.3%

Germany‘s imports from Libya 2020
as % of imports overall

1. Crude oil 97.4% 97.4%
2. Petrochemicals 2.4% 2.4%
3. Raw materials (excl. fuels) 0.2% 0.2%

SOURCE: alle GTAI 2021
*PROVISIONAL DATA , ESTIMATE OR PREDICTION

Egypt

Capital: Cairo
Inhabitants 2020: 102.3 Mio.*
Area: 1,001,450 km²
GDP/head 2020: 3,587 US-$*

Main import goods 2020
as % of imports overall

1. Food 17.5% 17.5%
2. Chemical products 15.1% 15.1%
3. Raw materials (excl. fuels) 8.7% 8.7%

Main export goods 2020
as % of exports overall

1. Chemical products 17.5% 17.5%
2. Food 16.4% 16.4%
3. Gold 10.9% 10.9%

Main supplier countries 2020
in %

1. China 15.0% 15.0%
2. USA 6.7% 6.7%
3. Saudi Arabia 6.3% 6.3%
4. Germany 5.8% 5.8%

Main customer countries 2020
in %

1. UAE 10.7% 10.7%
2. Saudi Arabia 6.4% 6.4%
3. Turkey 6.2% 6.2%

German exports to Egypt 2019
as % total exports

1. Plant 25.9% 25.9%
2. Vehicles and parts 17.3% 17.3%
3. Chemical products 16.9% 16.9%

Germany‘s imports from Egypt 2019
as % of imports overall

1. Crude oil 32.8% 32.8%
2. Food 19.4% 19.4%
3. Textiles/clothing 18.4% 18.4%

SOURCE: alle GTAI 2021
*PROVISIONAL DATA , ESTIMATE OR PREDICTION

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Different speeds, different perspectives

Marocco

Algeria

Tunisia

Libya

Egypt