Tunis Hosts 150+ Industry Leaders to Shape the Future of Mediterranean Textiles

In early September, over 150 industrial leaders from Europe, Egypt, Morocco, Turkey, and Jordan gathered in Tunis. The event was jointly organized by the Tunisian Textile and Clothing Federation (Ftth) and Euratex to discuss the future of the Mediterranean textile sector.

A Pillar of Tunisia’s Export Economy

The textile and clothing sector generated over 9 billion Tunisian dinars in exports in 2025, achieving a coverage rate of 127%. This performance places the industry just behind mechanical and electrical industries as one of the country’s top manufacturing export sectors. According to figures presented by the Ministry of Industry, more than 1,400 companies in the sector employ approximately 140,000 to 146,000 people.

The Limits of Distant, Low-Cost Sourcing

For the Ftth, the model of distant, low-cost sourcing—which has dominated the market for the past two0 years—is beginning to show its limitations. These include unpredictable freight costs, lengthening lead times, and European brands facing increasingly strict traceability regulations.

In response, Mediterranean southern countries are playing a different card: delivering faster, leveraging a proven industrial base, and demonstrating production that better aligns with environmental standards. Today, these factors are as important, if not more so, than price. The volume of trade confirms this trend: in 2025, textile trade between the EU and the seven partner Mediterranean countries surpassed 27 billion euros. The trade balance leans heavily in favor of European imports, indicating a deeply established economic link rather than a nascent relationship.

A Clear Signal for Investors

The signal for investors is clear: upgrading toward technical textiles, recycling, and digitalization is now the stated priority. Public mechanisms—such as modernization programs, the Industrial Transition Plan (ITP), and financial restructuring—are already available to support this transition.