The food trade balance deficit fell by 55% to TND 919.2 million between the end of October 2022 and 2023, according to data published on Thursday by the National Observatory for Agriculture (ONAGRI).
The coverage rate reached 85.7%, compared with 69.1% at the end of October 2022, according to a note from the observatory on food trade balance indicators at the end of October 2023.
In value terms, food exports rose by 20.4% compared with the end of October 2022, to reach TND 5,502.4 million. Imports amounted to TND 6,421.6 million at the end of October 2023, down by 3% compared with the same period in 2022.
According to ONAGRI, the decline in the deficit is essentially the result of the rise in olive oil exports (+54.3%) and the fall in grain imports (-9%) as well as vegetable oils (-26.7%).
The food trade deficit narrowed despite the increase in imports of sugar (+79.6%) and milk and milk derivatives (+59.9%).
According to the Observatory, export prices rose by 59.3% for olive oil, 27.8% for tomatoes, 4.4% for dates, 2% for fish products and 1.2% for citrus fruits, compared with the same period of the previous year.
Import prices for grain fell by 26.5% for durum wheat, 21.9% for common wheat, 23.4% for barley and 20.2% for maize.
The same applies to vegetable oils and milk and milk derivatives, which fell by 22% and 2% respectively. By contrast, sugar prices rose by 15.3%.
