FOREIGN TRADE IN THE WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN

Long-term foreign trade

Foreign trade flows between the two shores of the Western Mediterranean have decreased since the maximum volume of 2008, compared to the minimum achieved in 2020, due in part to the effect of the COVID19 pandemic. The crisis initiated in 2008 has affected exports from the Maghreb countries, whose evolution is responsible for the decrease of total flows. On the other hand, export from the European countries has increased continuously, albeit 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. Regarding the latter 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 energy products is much smaller, the most important ones being those between Spain and Morocco and France and Algeria.

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

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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 by the 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