Tunisia's energy dependence reaches 66% as trade deficit hits seven billion dinars in first half of 2026

The energy trade deficit also grew by 35%, reaching seven billion dinars. This deterioration is attributed to a decline in available resources and a rise in energy demand. The Ministry of Industry, Mines, and Energy's report for June 2026 confirms these trends, showing that national resources now cover only about one-third of the country's energy needs.

The primary energy balance deficit rose by 10% year-on-year to 3.1 million tons of oil equivalent. If the royalty from Algerian gas transit is excluded, energy dependence climbs to 73%. Primary energy demand increased by 3% between June 2025 and June 2026, with petroleum product demand up 7% and natural gas demand down 2%.

Petroleum products now constitute 51% of primary energy demand. Meanwhile, primary energy resources decreased by 8% to approximately 1.6 million tons of oil equivalent, mainly due to reduced national production of crude oil, natural gas, and LPG. The royalty from Algerian gas transit also fell by 27%.

The energy trade deficit reached seven billion dinars by June 2026, up from 5.175 billion dinars in the same period of 2025. While energy exports increased by 38% in value, imports rose by 36%, with crude oil imports surging by 210% in value. The ministry noted that energy trade is sensitive to quantities exchanged, the dinar's exchange rate against the dollar, and Brent crude pric