Imports of refined petroleum products nearly doubled in January 2025 compared to the same month in 2024, rising from 623.2 million dinars to 1.219 billion dinars, according to the latest statistics published by the National Institute of Statistics (INS).
It is worth noting that over the entire year of 2024, Tunisia’s purchases of refined petroleum products increased by 25% compared to the previous year, reaching nearly 4 million tons. This growing dependence is attributed to the inability of national infrastructure to meet rising demand.
This reliance on imports has direct repercussions on the country’s trade balance. Refined products account for a significant portion of Tunisia’s imports, further widening the trade deficit.
In 2024, the energy import bill exceeded 8.5 billion dinars, putting additional pressure on foreign exchange reserves. Moreover, fluctuations in international market prices add financial uncertainty for Tunisia, making it difficult to forecast energy-related costs.
