Foreign trade in the Western Mediterranean

Long-term foreign trade

Foreign trade flows between the two shores of the Western Mediterranean have decreased since a maximum volume in 2008 to a minimum achieved in 2020, due in part to the effect of the COVID19 pandemic. The crises initiated in 2008 have affected the exports from the Maghreb countries, whose evolution is the responsible of the decrease of total flows. On the other hand, export from the European countries has continuously increased, but with a smaller volume than those coming from Maghreb.

Foreign trade in 2019

South-North flows within GTMO 5+5 are higher than North-South flows, due to the high share of energy products. In this last type of flows, the most important are those originating in Algeria and Libya and headed towards Italy, Spain and France. In relation to the North-South flows, the proportion of the energetic products is much smaller, being those between Spain and Morocco and between France and Algeria the most important ones

Foreign trade distribution in Mtonnes – North South flows in GTMO 5+5, 2019

Foreign trade distribution in Mtonnes – South North flows in GTMO 5+5, 2019

Foreign trade of energy products in 2019

Foreign trade distribution of energy products in Mtonnes – North South flows in GTMO 5+5, 2019

Foreign trade distribution of energy products in Mtonnes – South North flows in GTMO 5+5, 2019

Monthly evolution of foreign trade. The effects of COVID19. 2019-2020

In 2020, the effects of COVID-19 have been reflected in a significant decrease in trade flows in both total volume and energy products, decreasing between 30 and 45 % depending on the month.

Monthly evolution of foreign trade of energetic products. The effects of COVID19. 2019-2020