Algeria’s trade surplus halved in the first 10 months of 2013 on the back of a 9% slump to $52.70bn in the value of the country’s hydrocarbon exports, according to Algeria’s latest official customs statistics. The trade surplus fell to $9.14bn for January-October 2013 from $17.85bn in the same period of 2012 (see table).

Total exports fell to $55.54bn, from $59.52bn for Q1-3 2012, while imports rose to $45.4bn in 2013 from $41.67bn in 2012. The trade balance surplus for the whole of 2012 stood at $27.18bn. (CONTINUED - 601 WORDS)