Xifres de comerç exterior de Tunísia

Foreign Trade in Figures

Tunisia's foreign trade represents 107% of its GDP (World Bank, latest data available). In 2023, Tunisia’s top exports were insulated wire (14%), non-knit men's suits (4.9%), refined petroleum (4%), pure olive oil (4%), and crude petroleum (3.9%); whereas imports comprised chiefly refined petroleum (8.2%), petroleum gas (6.6%), cars (3.2%), wheat (2.5%), and insulated wire (2.2% - data OEC). According to figures from the Ministry of Commerce, in 2023, agri-food exports rose by 17.8%, textiles and leather by 6.9%, and mechanical and electrical industries by 15.9%. In contrast, energy exports fell by 16.2%, and mining, phosphates, and derivatives dropped by 25.8%. Energy imports declined by 10.8%, and raw materials by 7.3%, while imports of equipment and consumer goods grew by 2.9% and 1.8%, respectively.

The European Union is Tunisia's main trading partner, accounting for 70.3% of its exports and 43.5% of its imports in 2023. On a country level, exports were mainly directed towards France (22.5%), Italy (16.7%), Germany (13.4%), the United States (4%), and Libya (3.7%); whereas imports come chiefly from Italy (13%), France (11.8%), China (10.1%), Russia (8.3%), and Germany (7.1% - data OEC). Tunisia is part of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and the Arab Maghreb Union, and has trade deals with the EU (Association Agreement) and Türkiye. It also holds observer status in ECOWAS and has agreements with COMESA, boosting access to African and Mediterranean markets. Click here for a list of the FTAs signed by Tunisia.
 
Tunisia's trade balance is structurally negative: according to the World Bank, the deficit stood at around 3.4% of GDP in 2023 (from 11.6% in the previous period). In the same year, exports reached USD 20 billion (+7.6%), with imports at USD 25.5 billion, decreasing by 4.4% after the record level attained one year earlier. Concerning services, exports stood at USD 6.1 billion against USD 4 billion in imports (+22.7% and +15.5% y-o-y, respectively). According to preliminary figures from the Ministry of Trade, Tunisia’s foreign trade results for 2024 show stable exports, maintaining the 2023 level at TND 62,077.6 million, after a 7.9% increase the previous year. Imports, however, rose by 2.3%, reaching TND 81,005.2 million. Export stability in 2024 was driven by growth in agri-food (+14.6%), energy (+0.5%), and mechanical and electrical industries (+1.2%), offset by declines in mining and phosphates (-26.3%) and textiles and leather (-4.8%). Imports rose by 2.3%, with increases in energy (+9.1%), equipment (+5.6%), and consumer goods (+6.3%), while raw materials (-2.6%) and food products (-6.1%) declined.