Food Trade Balance Shows Surplus of 614.8 Billion Dinars in Q1 2025
According to data published by the National Observatory of Agriculture (ONAGRI), the food trade balance recorded a surplus of 614.8 billion dinars in the first quarter of 2025, down from 1,115.5 billion dinars during the same period in 2024.
Coverage Rate of Imports by Exports Reaches 134.7%
The coverage rate of imports by exports stood at 134.7% as of the end of March 2025, compared to 161.6% a year earlier. In value terms, food exports decreased by 18.4%, while imports slightly decreased by 2.1%.
Decline in Exports of Olive Oil, Dates, and Fishery Products
This contraction is mainly due to the decline in exports of olive oil (-23.3%), dates (-18.7%), and fishery products (-31.6%), despite a significant decrease in imports of cereals (-18.3%), sugar (-33.4%), and vegetable oils (-50.6%).
Price Trends
Export prices dropped by 54.5% for olive oil and 9.6% for fishery products. On the other hand, they increased by 1.3% for dates and 30.3% for citrus fruits compared to the first quarter of 2024.
Import Prices
Import prices decreased by 18.5% for hard wheat and 3.5% for soft wheat, while they increased by 4.7% for barley and 7.7% for corn. Sugar prices fell by 34.9%, while vegetable oils saw a 19% increase, and dairy products a 10.8% increase.
Global Trade Balance Deficit Worsens
The overall trade balance deficit worsened by 66.8% in the first quarter of 2025, reaching -5,050.5 billion dinars compared to -3,027.4 billion dinars a year earlier.
Total Imports Increase by 5.5%
The total value of imports increased by 5.5%, rising from 19,315.3 billion dinars at the end of March 2024 to 20,375.5 billion dinars at the end of March 2025. Energy and raw materials, as well as semi-finished products, accounted for 50.3% of total imports.
Food Products Represent 8.7% of Total Imports
Food products accounted for 8.7% of total imports, with a volume of 1,769.2 billion dinars, while exports from the sector represented 15.6% of national exports.
Food Trade Surplus Contributes to Reducing Global Trade Deficit
The recorded surplus in the food trade balance contributed to reducing the global trade deficit by 24.7%.
