Results of the Semi-Annual Survey on Investment in the Manufacturing Sector
The results of the semi-annual survey on investment in the manufacturing sector have revealed an improvement in investment in the mechanical and electrical industries sector, with the balance of opinions rising from 6% in the second half of 2024 to 23% in the second half of 2025.
Objective of the Survey
The semi-annual survey on investment and its prospects, conducted by the National Institute of Statistics (INS), aims to assess the evolution of current investment in the sector during the previous semester and estimate the prospects for the evolution of this investment during the next semester, based on the forecasts of industrialists.
Increase in Exports
It is worth noting that exports of mechanical and electrical industries increased by 6.4% during the first nine months of 2025 compared to the same period of the previous year, with an estimated value of around 22.7 billion dinars, according to INS statistics. This increase is mainly due to the growth of electrical exports by 10.4%, while mechanical industry exports increased by 0.5%. This sector contributes significantly to the country's exports, representing 49% of total exports, with 76.6% destined for the European Union.
Divergent Opinions
The results of the semi-annual survey on investment in the manufacturing sector showed divergent opinions according to the sectors. The results of the survey of business leaders indicate an expected increase in investment in the chemical industry sector (from 7% to 28%) and the agri-food industry sector (from 8% to 24%). On the other hand, business leaders expressed an expected decline in the evolution of investment in the diverse industries sector and the construction materials, ceramics, and glass manufacturing sector.
Textile, Clothing, and Leather Sector
As for the textile, clothing, and leather sector, it is expected to experience stability in the level of investments, according to the INS survey document, which covered a sample of 1030 manufacturing sector enterprises. It is worth recalling that the value of industrial exports exceeded 38 million dinars by the end of September 2025.
Government Strategy
The government has launched an industry and innovation strategy that will contribute, by 2035, to the creation of 840,000 jobs, particularly in the electronics industry sector, and to an increase in the value of exports to 36 billion dinars. The Industry and Innovation Strategy establishes a diagnosis of the challenges and opportunities facing the country in this industrial sector in general. It also proposes innovative solutions to develop manufacturing, as well as to develop new professions and strengthen Tunisia's position in global value chains.
Importance of the Industrial Sector
The industrial sector is an essential pillar of the national economy and contributes to reducing the country's trade deficit by developing exports, diversifying national products, and encouraging their competitiveness, as well as by creating stable and sustainable jobs, which reinforces socio-economic stability and stimulates the investment climate and competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The national industrial fabric comprises 4,713 enterprises that offer nearly 530,000 jobs, with around 45% being totally export-oriented and providing employment capacity of nearly 355,000 posts, or around 67% of industrial sector jobs.
Contribution of Export-Oriented Enterprises
In addition, the value of exports of totally export-oriented enterprises approaches 45 million dinars annually, reflecting the importance of their contribution to the national economy, particularly in the manufacturing sector.
