The textile industry is doing well in Tunisia despite a difficult international situation that has impacted many textile-producing and exporting countries worldwide. Tunisia ranks among the main suppliers of clothing to the EU.
According to recent official data, Tunisia ranks 10th worldwide, ahead of the United Kingdom, Sri Lanka, Egypt, and many other countries.
The value of exports rose from €1.966 billion in 2019 to €2.280 billion in 2022 and €2.358 billion in 2023, while EU imports dropped significantly by an estimated 16.22%.
Increase in export value
Minister of Economy and Planning, Samir Abdelhafidh, announced Wednesday in Ksar Hellal (Monastir governorate) that the value of textile exports grew by 2.61% during the first five months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, reaching 3,942 million dinars, equivalent to €1,178 million.
At the opening of the seminar on the theme “Reality and Perspectives of the Textile Sector in Tunisia”, the minister added that forecasts indicate the total value of sector exports will reach 9,365 million dinars by the end of 2025, representing a growth rate of around 2% compared to the previous year.
Despite these positive indicators, the sector still faces many challenges, including strong competition from several countries, rising maritime freight costs, declining purchasing power of European consumers, as well as new EU strategic orientations for 2030. These include new taxes aimed at limiting carbon emissions from exported products, higher energy, water, and raw material costs, and the complexity of certain administrative procedures, the minister noted.
On this occasion, he stressed the need to accelerate the implementation of a plan to meet global market requirements, encourage investment and innovation, develop human capacities, and adopt modern technologies and smart industry techniques, such as clean industry and carbon emission reduction.
The minister also mentioned the continuation of the second phase of the “Global Textile and Clothing Program” (GTEX-MENATEX), which spans four years (2024–2027) with estimated funding of $2 million under Tunisian-Swiss and Tunisian-Swedish cooperation. About 33 companies operating in textiles, clothing, and sector support structures will benefit from this program.
Within the framework of the Import Promotion Project from Developing Countries (CBI), 18 companies as well as support structures operating in the sector will receive total funding estimated at €1.8 million under Tunisian-Dutch cooperation. The program runs from 2023 to 2026.
The Minister of Economy and Planning specified that the total external funding allocated to the sector amounts to 12.5 million dinars in the form of grants.
As the country’s second-largest exporting sector, textiles provide nearly 160,000 jobs in 1,600 companies, 85% of which are fully export-oriented. The sector’s annual export volume reaches nearly 10 billion dinars.
