Tunisia’s trade deficit widens to 18.44 million Dinars by October 2025

Tunisia’s trade deficit reached 18,435.8 million dinars (MD) by the end of October 2025, up from 15,716.4 MD over the same period in 2024, according to the National Institute of Statistics (INS).

The coverage rate fell to 73.9% compared with 76.7% last year. The deficit was primarily driven by energy (-9,181.5 MD), raw materials and semi-finished products (-5,191.8 MD), capital goods (-2,927 MD), and consumer goods (-1,769.1 MD), while the food sector posted a surplus of 633.6 MD. Excluding energy, the trade deficit narrowed to 9,254.3 MD, whereas the energy deficit stood at 9,181.5 MD, slightly improving from 9,396.7 MD in the first ten months of 2024.

Exports increased modestly by 1.1% to 52,214 MD from 51,623.4 MD during the same period last year. Growth was led by the mining, phosphate, and derivatives sector (+9.4%) and mechanical and electrical industries (+7.7%).

However, energy exports fell sharply by 29.2% due to lower refined product sales, while agro-food exports declined 13.8% and textiles, clothing, and leather fell 0.9%. Exports to the European Union, accounting for 70.5% of total exports, rose to 36,787.9 MD, with gains in Germany (+10.7%), France (+9.6%), and the Netherlands (+6.4%), while exports to Italy and Spain fell. Exports to Arab countries also grew, notably to Morocco (+36.1%) and Egypt (+35%).

Imports rose 4.9% to 70,649.8 MD from 67,339.7 MD. Increases were recorded in capital goods (+14.5%), raw materials and semi-finished products (+6.7%), and consumer goods (+10.9%), while energy imports fell by 9.3% and food products by 5.7%. Imports from the EU, making up 43.3% of total imports, increased to 30,586.6 MD, with higher purchases from France (+11.8%) and Germany (+8.1%), but declines from Italy, Greece, and Belgium. Outside the EU, imports rose from China (+25.1%) and Turkey (+13.6%) but fell from Russia (-19.4%) and India (-4.9%).