Tunisian foreign trade experienced a marked deterioration in the first quarter of 2025, with a trade deficit reaching 5,050.5 million dinars (MD) against 3,027.3 MD at the same period in 2024, an aggravation of 66.8 %, according to data published Friday by the National Statistics Institute (INS).
The rate of import coverage by exports dropped to 75.2 %, compared to 84.3 % a year earlier. This drop is explained by a decrease in exports and an increase in imports. The deficit is mainly dug by:
The energy sector: -2 881.7 MD,
The raw materials and a half -production: -1 616.2 MD,
Equipment goods: -927.9 md,
Consumer goods: -239.5 md.
The only exception, the food sector has generated a surplus of 614.8 MD.
Decrease in exports and changes in exchanges
Tunisian exports fell 5.9 %, reaching 15,325.1 MD. Several sectors are affected:
Energy: -34 %, due to the drop in sales of refined products (78.2 MD against 499.3 MD in 2024).
Agrifood industries: -18 %, impacted by the fall in olive oil sales (1,442.3 MD against 1,879.8 MD).
Mechanical and electrical industries: -2.4 %.
Textile, clothing and leather: -2.6 %.
Mines, phosphates and derivatives: -8.6 %.
Exchanges with the European Union, which represent 70.1 % of Tunisian exports, decreased at 10,736.9 MD against 11,620.5 MD a year earlier. If exports to Germany (+7.8 %) and the Netherlands (+13.4 %) increased, they fell to France (-5.7 %), Italy (-11.3 %) and Spain (-35.3 %).
On the other hand, exports to the Arab countries are up: +39.6 % to Libya, +38.6 % to Morocco, +15.3 % to Algeria and +155.7 % to Egypt.
These trends indicate a restructuring of trade flows, marked by a decline in European exports and increased orientation to the regional markets.
