Tunisia’s trade deficit shows no sign of easing, reaching a new high of -18,435.8 million dinars (MD) at the end of October 2025, compared to -15,716.4 MD during the same period in 2024, according to the National Institute of Statistics (INS).
Concurrently, the coverage ratio fell to 73.9%, down from 76.7%** in the same period last year.
The deficit mainly stems from 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).
In contrast, the food sector recorded a surplus of +633.6 MD.
Excluding energy, the trade deficit stands at -9,254.3 MD, while the energy trade deficit reached -9,181.5 MD, slightly improving compared to -9,396.7 MD in the first ten months of 2024.
Exports up slightly by 1.1%
The results of Tunisia’s trade with the outside world at current prices, during the first ten months of the year 2025, show that exports reached the level of 52,214 MD against 51,623.4 MD during the same period of 2024, an increase of 1.1%.
By sector, exports recorded an increase in the mining, phosphates and derivatives sector (+9.4%) and the mechanical and electrical industries sector (+7.7%).
Furthermore, exports posted a rise in the energy sector (-29.2%) due to lower sales of refined products (790.5 MD against 1,646.4 MD), as well as the agri-food industries sector (-13.8%) following the decrease in the value of sales of olive oils (3,062.1 MD against 4,175.1 MD) and the textiles, clothing and leather sector (-0.9%).
Tunisian exports to the European Union, during the first ten months of the year 2025, (70.5% of total exports), reached a value of 36,787.9 MD against 35,807 MD during the same period of the year 2024.
Exports are up with Germany (+10.7%), France (+9.6%) and the Netherlands (+6.4%).
In contrast, they decreased with Italy (-8.1%) and Spain (-16.7%).
To Arab countries, exports increased with Libya (+4.4%), with Morocco (+36.1%), with Algeria (+10.4%) and with Egypt (+35%).
Imports increase by 4.9%
As for imports, they reached 70,649.8 MD against 67,339.7 MD during the same period of the year 2024, an increase of 4.9%.
By product grouping, imports grew in capital goods (+14.5%) and raw materials and semi-finished products (+6.7%), likewise imports of consumer goods are up (+10.9%).
In contrast, imports of energy products recorded a decrease of (-9.3%) and food products of (-5.7%).
Regarding imports from the European Union (43.3% of total imports), they reached 30,586.6 MD against 29,209.5 MD during the first ten months of the year 2024.
Imports went up with France (+11.8%), and with Germany (+8.1%). In contrast, they dropped with Italy (-1.2%), Greece (-29.8%) and Belgium (-8%).
Outside the European Union, imports increased with China (+25.1%) and Turkey (+13.6%). In contrast, they recorded a decrease with Russia (-19.4%) and India (-4.9%).
