France’s trade deficit with Tunisia has narrowed by nearly 23%, from EUR 462.5m in the first four months of 2021 to EUR 358.4m over the same period in 2022, according to data from the French customs.
French exports to Tunisia increased by 34% between April 2021 and April 2022 to EUR 1.3 billion and French imports from Tunisia went up by 15.6% to EUR 1.7 billion at the end of April 2022.
In terms of sectors, the increase in exports concerns in particular the agricultural, forestry, fishing and aquaculture sector (up EUR 44.2 million to EUR 49.5 million), refined petroleum products and coke (up EUR 59.2 million to EUR 96.1 million) and transport materials (up EUR 79.6 million to EUR 146.9 million). Exports of natural hydrocarbons and other mining and quarrying products fell (-10.5%), as did exports of pharmaceuticals (-5.9%) and those of the agri-food sector (-3.2%).
On the import side, imports of refined petroleum products and coke rose sharply from EUR 9.6 million to EUR 21.7 million. The sector is the main beneficiary item, with a positive balance of EUR 74.4 million. Imports of chemicals, perfumes and cosmetics rose by 60.5% to EUR 24.7 million at the end of April 2022, as did those of pharmaceutical products (+49.6% to EUR 7.4 million).
