Phosphate production grew 8.4% year-on-year to 789,812 tonnes in Q1 of 2024, as shown by data released by the Gafsa Phosphate Company (GPC) and reported by the Tunisian Institute of Competitiveness and Quantitative Studies (ITCEQ) in its report on the economic situation in Q1.
Phosphate ouput shrank 48% in 2023 to 2.9 million tonnes compared to , initial forecasts of 5.6 million tonnes and 9.4% on 2022 (3.2 million tonnes).
The exports of the sector of mines and phosphate and derivatives, according to National institute of Statistics (INS) figures, fell 21.9% at the end of March 2024, 26.3% in the first four months of 2024 and 31.1% at the end of May 2024.
Once a strategic pillar of the national economy, the phosphate sector has been experiencing hard times for years now, mainly structural difficulties in relation to rail transportation, which have taken their toll on the level of production and its contribution to the GDP and national exports.
Minister Fatma Chiboub told MPs at a heariong last May 10 of the Finance and Budget Commission at the Assembly of People’s Representatives the contribution of phosphate sector to the GDP and exports dipped from 3% and 10% to 12%, respectively, before 2011 to 1% and 3% currently.
A TND 172. 7 million loan agreement (US $55 million) was signed last February 22 by Tunisia and the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) to co-finance a project to revamp the railway network for phosphate transportation was approved by the parliament on June 12, 2024.
The TND 518 million project, managed by the Tunisian National Railways Company (SNCFT), seeks to renovate and improve a section of the railway line (190 km) to secure the transportation of more phosphate and optimise costs.
