Tunisia's Trade Balance Deficit Reaches 20,168.5 Million Dinars
The trade balance deficit has reached 20,168.5 million dinars (MD) during the first eleven months of 2025, compared to a deficit of 16,758.5 MD during the same period in 2024. The coverage rate has decreased to 74.2%, down from 77.3% in 2024, according to the "Foreign Trade at Current Prices, November 2025" report published by the National Institute of Statistics (INS) on Friday.
Breakdown of the Deficit
The deficit is attributed to the following groups:
- Energy products: -10,308.4 MD
- Raw materials and semi-finished products: -5,514 MD
- Equipment goods: -3,268.8 MD
- Consumer goods: -1,952.9 MD In contrast, the food group has recorded a surplus of +875.5 MD.
Energy and Non-Energy Deficits
The non-energy trade balance deficit has decreased to -9,860.1 MD, while the energy trade balance deficit has increased to -10,308.4 MD, compared to -9,812 MD during the same period in 2024.
Trade Exchange Results
The results of Tunisia's trade exchanges with the outside world at current prices during the first eleven months of 2025 show that the deficit is due to a slower growth rate of exports (57,916.6 MD, up 1.5%) compared to imports (78,085.1 MD, up 5.8%).
Sectoral Performance
Exports have increased in the following sectors:
- Mines, phosphates, and derivatives: +12%
- Mechanical and electrical industries: +7.8% However, exports have decreased in the following sectors:
- Energy: -29.6% due to a decline in sales of refined products (899.5 MD vs. 1,755.4 MD)
- Agro-food industries: -11.2% due to a decline in olive oil sales (3,470.7 MD vs. 4,456.2 MD)
- Textile, clothing, and leather: -1.8%
Export Markets
Tunisian exports to the European Union during the first eleven months of 2025 (70.5% of total exports) have reached 40,813.3 MD, compared to 39,601.5 MD during the same period in 2024. Exports have increased to:
- Germany: +10%
- France: +8.9%
- Netherlands: +4.6% However, exports have decreased to:
- Italy: -8.8%
- Spain: -9.2% Exports have also increased to Arab countries, including:
- Libya: +3.9%
- Morocco: +27.6%
- Algeria: +9.2%
- Egypt: +18.4%
Import Markets
Imports have increased in the following groups:
- Equipment goods: +14.6%
- Raw materials and semi-finished products: +6.6%
- Consumer goods: +11% However, imports have decreased in the following groups:
- Energy products: -4.2%
- Food products: -7.7% Imports from the European Union (43.3% of total imports) have reached 33,804 MD, compared to 32,174.8 MD during the same period in 2024. Imports have increased from:
- France: +11.4%
- Germany: +8.5% However, imports have decreased from:
- Greece: -36.9%
- Belgium: -9.1% Outside the European Union, imports have increased from:
- China: +22.6%
- Turkey: +14.3% However, imports have decreased from:
- Russia: -20.9%
- India: -4.4%
