Tunisia’s trade deficit narrowed to TND 2,784.2 million at the end of February 2026, compared with TND 3,517 million during the same period in 2025, according to the National Institute of Statistics (INS) in its report on foreign trade at current prices published Thursday.
The coverage rate (exports to imports ratio) improved to 79.5%, compared with 74.3% in the same period of 2025.
According to the INS, the deficit mainly stems from energy products (-TND 1,886 million), raw materials and semi-finished goods (-TND 790.7 million), capital goods (-TND 488.4 million) and consumer goods (-TND 108.8 million).
In contrast, the food sector recorded a surplus of TND 489.7 million.
The trade deficit excluding energy narrowed to TND 898.3 million, while the energy trade deficit stood at TND 1,886 million, compared with TND 1,845.4 million during the first two months of 2025.
Exports rise by 6.2%
Tunisia’s exports increased by 6.2% during the first two months of 2026, reaching TND 10,803.1 million, compared with TND 10,169.2 million in the same period of 2025.
By sector, exports rose in mechanical and electrical industries (+14.8%) and agri-food industries (+6.1%), driven by higher olive oil exports (TND 1,252.3 million compared with TND 1,007.6 million).
However, exports declined in mining, phosphates and derivatives (-24.6%), textiles, clothing and leather (-1.8%), and energy (-0.5%), mainly due to lower crude oil exports (TND 239.8 million compared with TND 372.3 million).
Exports to the European Union, which account for 72.1% of Tunisia’s total exports, reached TND 7,793.4 million in the first two months of 2026, compared with TND 7,091.9 million during the same period in 2025.
Exports increased to France (+15.7%) and Germany (+9.9%), but declined to Italy (-1.6%) and the Netherlands (-25.3%).
Exports to Arab countries rose to Egypt (+76.4%) and Saudi Arabia (+68.9%), while they fell to Morocco (-45.3%), Algeria (-18.6%) and Libya (-29.2%).
Imports fall by 0.7%
Imports reached TND 13,587.4 million, compared with TND 13,686.2 million during the same period of 2025, marking a 0.7% decrease.
By product group, imports increased for capital goods (+1.4%), energy products (+1.7%), consumer goods (+2.3%) and food products (+2.6%).
However, imports of raw materials and semi-finished products declined by 6%.
Imports from the European Union, which account for 45.6% of total imports, reached TND 6,189.4 million, compared with TND 5,770.3 million during the first two months of 2025.
Imports rose from France (+26.3%) and Italy (+12.3%), while they declined from Spain (-5%) and Greece (-28.2%).
Outside the EU, imports increased from Turkey (+3.8%) and India (+48.9%), but fell from Russia (-59.7%) and China (-18.1%).
