Tunisia's Trade Balance: A Mixed Bag
Tunisia's trade exchanges continued to grow during the first four months of 2026, but the trade deficit remains high. According to data published by the National Institute of Statistics, Tunisian exports reached 22.7 billion dinars by the end of April 2026, compared to 20.7 billion dinars during the same period in 2025, representing a 9.5% increase.
Key Figures
- Exports: 22.7 billion dinars (up 9.5% from 2025)
- Imports: 30.2 billion dinars (up 7.9% from 2025)
- Trade deficit: 7.5 billion dinars (compared to 7.3 billion dinars in 2025)
Analysis
At the same time, imports increased by 7.9% to reach 30.2 billion dinars, compared to 28 billion dinars a year earlier. This development resulted in a trade deficit of 7.5 billion dinars during the first four months of the year, compared to 7.3 billion dinars during the same period in 2025. Despite this gap, the import coverage rate by exports slightly improved, rising from 74% to 75.1%. These figures reflect a positive dynamic of Tunisian exports, but also show that the pace of imports continues to weigh on the country's trade balance.
Outlook
The growth in exports is a positive sign for the Tunisian economy, but the persistent trade deficit remains a concern. Efforts to boost exports and reduce imports will be crucial to improving the country's trade balance and promoting sustainable economic growth.
