Tunisian Economic Highlights – 2025
📈 Phosphate Exports Bounce Back 15 %
- Growth: After a 26.3 % contraction in 2024, Tunisian exports of phosphate and its derivatives rose by 15 % in 2025 (National Institute of Statistics).
- Strategic importance: The sector is a key driver of GDP growth, trade‑deficit reduction, and foreign‑exchange earnings.
- Historical context:
- In 2010 the industry contributed ≈ 4 % of GDP and 9 % of total exports, with 8 million t produced.
- Production later stabilized around 3.5 million t.
- Government plan: A modernization programme targeting extraction, transport, and processing aims for 14 million t by 2030, with a large share destined for local value‑addition.
- Political backing: President Kais Saied called for restoring the sector’s historic performance while safeguarding workers and water resources (e.g., using treated wastewater for phosphate washing).
- Current outlook: Prime Minister Sarra Zaafrani Zenzri confirmed ≈ 5 million t produced in 2025 and projected 5.3 million t annually for 2025‑2030, cementing phosphate’s sustainable growth trajectory.
🐟 Fisheries Trade Balance – Surplus of 283.8 MD
- Balance: The National Observatory of Agriculture (Onagri) reported a trade surplus of 283.8 million dinars (MD) for fish products at the end of December 2025, down from 386.8 MD a year earlier.
- Coverage ratio: 148 % – exports cover imports by a wide margin, underscoring the sector’s strategic role.
Export Performance
| Metric | 2025 | Change vs. 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Volume | 35.5 k t | ‑2.7 % |
| Value | 878 MD | +3.8 % |
| Avg. price | 24.8 DZD/kg | +6.7 % (vs. 23.2 DZD/kg) |
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Product mix:
- Fish: 17.5 k t (49.3 %)
- Crustaceans: 23.7 %
- Canned & semi‑canned: 22.8 %
- Molluscs: 4.2 %
-
Key markets (share of total exports):
- Italy 28 %
- Spain 15 %
- Libya 10 %
- Algeria & Japan 7 % each
Import Surge
- Value: +29.4 % to 594.2 MD
- Volume: +23.4 % to 88 k t
- Average price: 6.76 DZD/kg (+5 %)
91 % of imports are fish, primarily for industrial processing (72.4 %), local supply (20.8 %), and fattening (6.8 %).
☀️ Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Authorizations – 187 New Projects
- Authorizations granted: 187 to small‑ and medium‑sized enterprises (SMEs).
- Total capacity: 287 MW of photovoltaic solar power.
- Program context: Fifth round of the “authorisation‑based” call for projects, reflecting strong private‑sector dynamism and investor confidence in Tunisia’s energy roadmap.
Policy Highlights
- Regime goal: Simplify administrative procedures, boost renewable‑energy investments, and enable SMEs to become power producers.
- 2026 Finance Law: Introduces a 3 % bonus (state contribution) to further enhance sector attractiveness.
- Renewables share: Already > 11 % of national electricity generation.
Long‑Term Targets
| Target | Year | Required additional capacity | Estimated investment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reduce energy consumption by 30 % | 2030 | — | — |
| Raise renewables to 35 % of generation | 2030 | ≈ 4,850 MW | > 12 billion DZD (~ 4 bn USD) |
The initiative is part of a broader economic and societal vision: creating wealth, supporting energy‑intensive industries, and strengthening local energy production through SME participation.
📚 Further Reading
Corruption Index 2025: Tunisia Ranked 91st Worldwide
All figures are sourced from official Tunisian statistical agencies and ministries.
