Tunisian Food Trade Balance Records a Surplus of 614.8 Million Dinars in Q1 2025
According to the latest data from the National Observatory of Agriculture (Onagri), Tunisia's food trade balance recorded a surplus of 614.8 million dinars in the first quarter of 2025, down from 1,115.5 million dinars during the same period in 2024. This 45% decrease is mainly attributed to the decline in strategic agricultural product exports.
However, the import coverage rate by exports improved, reaching 134.7% by the end of March 2025, up from 129.8% the previous month. This relative performance is linked to a more marked contraction in imports than exports: exports generated 2,386.1 million dinars, while imports totaled 1,771.3 million dinars.
A closer look reveals that revenue from olive oil exports dropped by 23.3%, date exports by 18.7%, and fishery products by 31.6%. Meanwhile, cereal imports decreased by 18.3%, sugar imports by 33.4%, and vegetable oil imports by 50.6%, partially offsetting the negative impact on the surplus.
In proportion, the share of food exports in Tunisia's overall foreign trade decreased by 2.4 points year-over-year, standing at 15.6% by the end of March 2025. The share of food imports also declined, albeit more slightly, to 8.7% (-0.7 point).
On the international market, cereal prices have undergone contrasting developments: a 18.5% drop for durum wheat, a 3.5% decrease for soft wheat, but a 4.7% increase for barley and a 7.7% rise for corn. Meanwhile, the average import price of vegetable oils surged by 19%, while the sugar price plummeted by 34.9% compared to the same period in 2024.
