Tunisia's Trade Deficit Reaches 16.728 Billion Dinars by September 2025
Tunisia's trade deficit has reached 16.728 billion dinars by the end of September 2025, compared to 13.497 billion dinars during the same period in 2024, according to data published by the National Institute of Statistics (INS). This increase is accompanied by a decline in the rate of coverage of imports by exports, from 77.5% to 73.5%, as indicated by Moez Soussi, economics professor, on Express FM on October 14, 2025.
Main Driver of the Deficit: Energy Deficit
According to Soussi, the main driver of this imbalance remains the energy deficit, estimated at 8.1 billion dinars, which is nearly half of the total deficit. Soussi attributed this situation to the decline in national energy production, linked to the slowdown in the granting of exploration permits, insufficient governance of the sector, and the loss of investor confidence.
Deficits and Surpluses in Various Sectors
The economist also mentioned a deficit of 2.7 billion dinars for equipment goods and 4.99 billion dinars for raw materials and semi-manufactured goods, a level he considers "acceptable" as it reflects productive activity and long-term investments. On the other hand, food and consumer products have recorded a surplus of 620 million dinars, proving that Tunisia's deficit is not due to overconsumption, but rather to the energy imbalance.
Positive Signs and Perspectives
Soussi highlighted that without the energy deficit, Tunisia would have shown a current surplus, thanks in particular to the good performance of the tourism sector and the transfers of Tunisians abroad, which have alleviated pressure on the trade balance. He also noted the stability of foreign exchange reserves and welcomed signs of a structural change in the national economy, which holds positive prospects for the medium term.
Geographical Breakdown of Trade
In terms of geography, trade with the European Union accounts for 70.3% of Tunisia's exports over the first nine months of 2025, totaling 32.6 billion dinars, compared to 32.3 billion dinars the previous year. Sales to Germany (+11.2%), France (+8.4%), and the Netherlands (+7.2%) have increased, while exports to Italy (-10.1%) and Spain (-20.3%) have declined.
Trade with the Arab World
Trade with the Arab world is also on the rise, particularly with Libya (+7.4%), Morocco (+35.9%), Algeria (+11.6%), and Egypt (+33.5%). On the import side, Tunisia has increased its purchases from France (+12.7%), Germany (+8.6%), China (+29.4%), and Turkey (+17.7%), while reducing its imports from Italy, Russia, and Ukraine.
