Tunisian Factory Managers Show Increasing Optimism
The National Institute of Statistics (INS) has released its semi-annual survey, targeting investments in the manufacturing industry. The data for the second half of 2025, collected from 1,085 companies in November, presents a nuanced but overall encouraging picture. Opinions are improving, and prospects for 2026 look promising.
A Renewed Optimism for Current Investments
The global investment barometer in the manufacturing industries rose to +21% in the second half of 2025, compared to +18% in the previous semester. This modest increase confirms a recovery that has been underway for several months. Recall that the sector had hit rock bottom at -3% in the first half of 2020. Today, we remain below the historical average (2002-2022), but the dynamic is there: business leaders are once again betting on their companies.
And the Future Looks Even Brighter for 2026
For the first half of 2026, forecasts are rising to +20%, compared to +18% previously. Entrepreneurs anticipate a slight acceleration of their investments, a good sign in a tense economic context.
Sectors That Are Taking Off... and Others That Are Struggling
Not all sectors are moving at the same pace. The stars of the semester are the chemical industries, which are exploding from +23% to +37%, followed by mechanical and electrical industries (+24% to +34%), and diverse industries (+5% to +12%).
However, on the downside, the food industry is declining from +23% to +17%, as are construction materials, ceramics, and glass (+15% to +10%). The textile, clothing, and leather industry remains stable.
Surprises in Store for 2026
The forecasts reserve some twists. Construction materials are expected to rebound strongly: from -2% to +18%! The textile industry is moving from -6% to 0%, and diverse industries are aiming for +17% (compared to +10%). On the other hand, mechanical and electrical industries are slowing down (from +23% to +10%), while chemicals and food industries are stabilizing.
