Tunisia’s trade exchanges reached 34,645 million dinars (MD) in exports and 47,214 MD in imports, during the first six months of 2026.
While exports showed a 9% increase compared to the same period in 2025 (when they stood at 31,773 MD), imports jumped by 13.3% (compared to 41,674 MD a year earlier).
This asymmetry in the growth of flows widens the trade balance gap. Indeed, the trade deficit stood at 12,569 MD, compared to 9,900 MD in the first half of 2025 (+26.9%). The coverage rate thus fell sharply, from 76.2% in 2025 to 73.4% in 2026.
Olive oil and energy drive exports, textiles decline
Sectoral analysis highlights divergent trajectories for the country’s industrial engines. The agri-food industries progressed by 25.2%, a performance largely driven by the surge in olive oil sales, which reached 3,383 MD compared to 2,346 MD in the first half of the previous year.
For energy (+49.1%), this sector benefits from a massive increase in exports of refined products, totaling 807.9 MD (compared to 245.6 MD in 2025), while mechanical and electrical industries maintained their course with a 9.1% increase.
In contrast, the mining, phosphates and derivatives sector recorded a heavy drop of 19%, while the textile, clothing and leather sector, a traditional pillar of Tunisian industry, contracted by 3.5%.
On the imports side, the increase is widespread. It is particularly marked by purchases of energy products (+33.5%) and food products (+27.1%). Capital goods (+8.4%), consumer goods (+9.3%) and raw materials (+6.5%) increased.
Energy, the main fracture point of the trade balance
Examination of the balance by product group confirms that the energy crisis remains the main financial burden of Tunisian foreign trade. The energy balance deficit widened to reach 6,779 MD (compared to 5,214 MD in the first half of 2025).
Excluding energy, the trade balance deficit would be reduced by more than half, settling at 5,790 MD.
With the exception of the food group, which generated a surplus of 971.8 MD (thanks to agri-food), all other categories are in deficit: raw materials and semi-finished products (-3,266 MD), capital goods (-2,228 MD) and consumer goods (-1,267 MD).
Partner mapping: Europe unshakeable, Egypt explodes
The European Union consolidated its status as Tunisia’s leading partner, capturing 70.4% of total exports and representing 44.9% of imports.
In detail, exports increased towards France (+8.6%) and Italy (+5.5%), but fell towards Germany (-0.5%) and collapsed towards Greece (-27.4%).
At the import level, Tunisia significantly increased its purchases from France (+18.5%) and Italy (+13.7%), while a slight decline was observed with Bulgaria (-8.8%) and Portugal (-1.4%).
Non-EU and Arab World trade
In the Arab region, Tunisian exports showed a real boom towards Egypt (+104.8%) and Saudi Arabia (+52.4%). On the other hand, they suffered a notable halt with Maghreb partners, namely Morocco (-26.2%), Algeria (-18.7%) and Libya (-3.9%).
Finally, outside European borders, imports intensified with India (+22.9%), Turkey (+9.5%) and China (+4.5%), to the detriment of Russia which recorded a drastic drop of 44.8%.
