Exports rise 9% to 34.6B dinars while imports jump 13.3%, driven by energy and food costs
Tunisia’s trade deficit surged 26.9% to 12.6 billion dinars in the first half of 2026, as import growth significantly outpaced export gains amid soaring energy and food prices, according to official data.
Exports reached 34.6 billion dinars, a 9% increase from 31.8 billion dinars in H1 2025, while imports climbed 13.3% to 47.2 billion dinars. The coverage rate fell from 76.2% to 73.4%.
Olive Oil and Energy Lead Export Growth
Agri-food exports jumped 25.2%, driven by olive oil sales surging to 3.38 billion dinars from 2.35 billion dinars. Energy exports soared 49.1% on refined product shipments, which skyrocketed to 807.9 million dinars from 245.6 million dinars. Mechanical and electrical industries recorded a 9.1% uptick.
However, phosphate and mining exports plunged 19%, while textiles and leather—a traditional pillar—contracted 3.5%.
Energy Deficit Remains Critical
The energy trade deficit widened to 6.78 billion dinars, accounting for more than half the total shortfall. Excluding energy, Tunisia’s deficit would shrink to 5.79 billion dinars.
Import increases were broad-based: energy products (+33.5%), food products (+27.1%), capital goods (+8.4%), and consumer goods (+9.3%).
EU Dominates, Egypt Trade Booms
The European Union remains Tunisia’s primary partner, representing 70.4% of exports and 44.9% of imports. Exports to France (+8.6%) and Italy (+5.5%) rose but declined to Germany (-0.5%) and Greece (-27.4%).
Within the Arab world, exports to Egypt more than doubled (+104.8%) and surged to Saudi Arabia (+52.4%), while Maghreb trade faltered: Morocco (-26.2%), Algeria (-18.7%), and Libya (-3.9%).
Imports from India (+22.9%), Turkey (+9.5%), and China (+4.5%) increased, while Russian imports plummeted 44.8%.
TunisianMonitorNews
