Tunisia's trade deficit exceeds 10 billion dinars by May 2026, worsening by 24.5%

This figure follows a record deficit of 21.8 billion dinars at the end of 2025. The import coverage rate decreased to 73% in May 2026, down from 76.2% in May 2025 and 80.7% in May 2024, according to the National Institute of Statistics. Exports rose by 5% to 28.17 billion dinars in the first five months of 2026, while imports increased by 9.6% to 38.58 billion dinars during the same period.

Growth in exports was driven by mechanical and electrical industries +6.1%, agri-food industries +20%, particularly olive oil sales, and the energy sector +37.7% due to increased refined product sales. Conversely, exports declined in mining, phosphates, and derivatives -31.8%, and textiles, clothing, and leather -6.2%. All import categories saw increases, with energy products up 35.1% and food products up 20.1%.

Exports to the European Union, representing 71.5% of total exports, increased to 20.13 billion dinars. Exports to France and Italy grew, while those to Germany and the Netherlands decreased. Exports to Arab countries saw increases with Egypt and Saudi Arabia but fell with Morocco, Algeria, and Libya.

Imports from the European Union, accounting for 44.2% of total imports, reached 17.05 billion dinars, with increases from France and Italy, and decreases from Belgium and Spain. Outside the EU, imports from Turkey and India rose,