Exports of the leather and footwear industries posted a slight increase of 1.6% in the first quarter of 2012 compared with the same period of 2011, according to the newsletter of the National Leather and Footwear Centre (CNCC).
This increase was around 12.9% in the same period of the previous year.
The sector’s exports reached a value of 258.3 million Tunisian dinars (MTD) compared to 254.3 MTD in 2011.
As for imports, they totaled 144.8 MTD, up 5.4% compared to 2011.
The trade balance shows a coverage ratio of 178.4% with a trade surplus of 113.5 MTD.
According to the CNCC’s newsletter, the sector’s exports in Euro posted a decline of 0.5% in of 2012, compared to 2011. Their value went from 129.3 million Euros down to 128.6 million Euros.
By product, complete shoes are the main exported products, i.e. 58.8% of the sector’s overall exports for a value of 151.8 MTD. In the second place came shoe uppers (17.7%) and third were leather goods (13.1%).
Tunisia also exports other leather products such as leather accessories and parts, gloves, travel bags, saddlery, trunks and suitcases.
Leather, hides and skins are the main products imported, with 51.4% of the overall exports volume.
Tunisian leather products are mainly exported to European countries, including, in particular, Italy, France, Germany and Spain.
Tunisia also exports small quantities to Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Turkey, Belgium and the Republic of Korea.
