Following a trend characterized by faster growth in exports (+11.3%) than in imports (+2.4%), the trade deficit narrowed to 8,102 million dinars at the end of May, compared to 9,929 million dinars a year earlier.
The cover ratio increased by 6.1 points to 76.2% compared to the same period last year.
Exports went up by 11.3% (compared with +25.1% in the same period of 2022) to 25.903 billion dinars, from 23.283 billion dinars in the five months of 2022.
Imports increased by 3.8% (compared with +30.4% during the same period in 2022) to 34,005 million dinars, from 33,212 million dinars at the end of May 2022.
Exports from the agro-food sector rose by 8.5%, textiles, clothing and leather by 15% and machinery and electrical equipment by 20.8%.
In contrast, exports of energy fell by 32.3% and those of mining, phosphates and derivatives by 0.3%.
The increase in imports was due to higher imports of energy products (+10.6%), consumer goods (+4.8%) and capital goods (+6%). Imports of raw materials and semi-finished goods fell by 2.4%.
The trade deficit was mainly due to the deficit recorded with certain countries, such as China (-3.304,2 bn), Russia (-2.428,9 bn), Algeria (-2.198,6 bn), Turkey (-1.310,8 bn), Ukraine (-611.1 mn), Egypt (-437.2 mn) and Greece (-325.8 mn).
On the other hand, the balance of trade in goods recorded a surplus with other countries, mainly France (2.348.5 bn), Germany (1.413,3 bn), Italy (109 mn) and Libya (891 mn).
It should be noted that the deficit of the balance of trade with non-energy countries decreased to -3,418 million dinars and that the deficit of the balance of trade with energy countries was -4,684.2 million dinars (58% of the total deficit) compared to -3,465.2 million dinars in the first five months of 2022.
