Algeria First-Half Trade Surplus Down

Algeria's trade surplus in the first half of 2014 fell to $3.89 billion from $4.83 billion a year earlier, mainly because energy earnings fell 2.30 percent, official data showed on Monday.

Oil and gas exports, which accounted for 96 percent of total sales abroad, declined to $32.23 billion from $32.97 billion in the first six months of 2013, according to customs figures.

The value of total exports fell 1.60 percent to $33.59 billion. Imports rose 1.30 percent to $29.69 billion, the data showed.

(Reporting by Hamid Ould Ahmed; Editing by Larry King)