Algeria Gate: Europe’s naphtha imports surged in July 2026, largely due to increased supplies from Algeria. The rise came as escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and disruptions to maritime shipping redirected some trade flows toward the European continent.
Europe’s total naphtha imports rose by 39.2% month-on-month in July, an increase of around 490,000 tonnes compared with June levels, according to data monitored by the specialised energy platform.
Algeria topped the list of naphtha suppliers to Europe last month after its shipments jumped to their highest level in nearly 14 months, while the list of major suppliers also included several Mediterranean countries as well as the United States.
Algeria tops the suppliers list
Europe’s total naphtha imports reached around 1.74 million tonnes in July 2026, compared with nearly 1.25 million tonnes in June.
Algeria took the lead among suppliers with total shipments of around 397,400 tonnes, the highest monthly level of Algerian exports to Europe since May 2025, according to data reported by Argus Media, the energy specialist, citing Vortexa.
This rise reflects a striking shift in the trade routes of Algerian naphtha amid the changes that have affected maritime shipping movements as a result of the military and geopolitical escalation in the Middle East.
Geopolitical tensions redirect shipments
The repercussions of the US-Israeli war on Iran have increased the risks associated with navigation in the region, particularly in the Red Sea, prompting a number of naphtha suppliers to reconsider their shipping routes and target markets.
In this context, Algeria avoided routing naphtha shipments bound for Asia through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait amid escalating security threats and disruptions to maritime navigation.
No Algerian naphtha shipments to Asia passed through the strait in July, compared with around 132,000 tonnes in June.
Nevertheless, Algerian naphtha exports to Asian markets overall rose from around 292,000 tonnes in June to 441,000 tonnes in July, with a longer route via the Cape of Good Hope being adopted to avoid the risks of the Red Sea.
These developments reveal a notable redistribution in the map of Algerian naphtha exports, as the rise in shipping costs and risks along traditional routes has pushed some suppliers to direct a larger share of supplies towards Europe, considered a closer and more logistically suitable market.
Who is competing with Algeria in the European naphtha market?
Algeria was not the sole supplier of naphtha to the European market in July, as several Mediterranean and other international markets featured among the major suppliers.
According to the available data, the main supplying countries were as follows:
– Algeria: 397.4 thousand tonnes
– Italy: 264.7 thousand tonnes
– Spain: 212.3 thousand tonnes
– United States: 160.8 thousand tonnes
US naphtha shipments to Europe recorded their highest levels in 11 months, since August 2025, providing a further indication of the growing supply flows to the European continent last month.
