Power Outages in Tunisia: How Supply Chain Disruptions Are Costing Exporters Millions

Meeting delivery deadlines is a critical factor for retaining international clients. It is an open secret in the industry. However, when production lines halt due to power shortages, companies lose a significant portion of their ability to fulfill their commitments. In Tunisia, the power outages that occurred in July and August 2026 highlighted this challenge starkly. According to a survey conducted by the Arab Institute of Business Leaders (IACE), 29% of the exporting companies surveyed reported experiencing delivery delays directly linked to power interruptions.

For industrialists working with foreign clients, even a few hours of downtime can be enough to disrupt an entire production schedule. Orders pile up, deadlines tighten, and deliveries fall behind. Companies are then forced to find solutions to honor their contracts, often at the risk of incurring additional costs. In some cases, these disruptions led to commercial penalties and the loss of foreign clients, according to the survey.

The manufacturing industry recorded 671.5 million dinars in direct losses of added value, out of an estimated total of 1,269.6 million dinars for the entire economy. Furthermore, 83% of the industrial companies surveyed reported a decline in their revenue.

To limit the damage, some exporters have had to restructure their operations. According to the IACE, 8.3% of the exporting companies surveyed resorted to outsourcing or importing components. While these solutions can help meet urgent orders, they come at a cost.

Moreover, pressure is also mounting from rising prices. Among the companies surveyed, 30.5% reported an increase in the cost of their inputs. Industrialists must therefore navigate higher expenses while their production remains disrupted.