Trade Balance Shows Deterioration in Q1 2026
The trade balance for the first quarter of 2026 showed a deterioration in the deficit, which stood at -5,232.7 MTND, compared to -5,049.5 MTND in the same period last year.
Export and Import Trends
Exports increased by 6.1% to 16,266.8 MTND, while imports followed the same trend, with a 5.5% increase to 21,499.5 MTND. The growth in foreign sales is mainly driven by the mechanical and electrical industries sector (+10.6% to 7,735 MTND), the agri-food sector (+16.1% to 2,965.2 MTND), thanks to a surge in olive oil exports (1,991.6 MTND), and the energy sector (+6.2% to 638.6 MTND) due to an increase in refined product sales (247.5 MTND). On the other hand, exports declined in the mining, phosphate, and derivatives sector (-20.3% to 437 MTND) and the textile, clothing, and leather sector (-5% to 2,668.7 MTND).
Import Trends by Product Group
All product groups showed an increase in imports:
- Food products: +13.9% to 2,016.1 MTND
- Equipment goods: +5.3% to 3,880.8 MTND
- Energy products: +4.2% to 3,629 MTND
- Consumer goods: +4.9% to 4,900.9 MTND
- Raw materials and semi-finished products: +4.5% to 7,073.1 MTND
Trade with the European Union
The European Union accounts for 71.5% of Tunisian exports, with increases to France (+10.6%), Italy (+4%), and Germany (+3.3%). Imports from the European Union represent 45.2% of the total, at 9,722.5 MTND. Outside the European Union, imports increased from Turkey (+6.3%) and India (+39.5%), while they declined significantly from Russia (-61.6%) and China (-7.3%).
Trade Deficit
The trade deficit remains heavily influenced by the energy balance (-2,990.4 MTND), followed by raw materials and semi-finished products (-1,601.4 MTND), equipment goods (-977 MTND), and consumer goods (-462.2 MTND). In contrast, the food group shows a surplus of 798.3 MTND. Excluding energy, the deficit decreases to -2,242.3 MTND, compared to -2,881.7 MTND in the first quarter of 2025, indicating a slight improvement in the structure of non-hydrocarbon trade. The import coverage rate by exports increases to 75.7%, compared to 75.2% in the same period last year.
