The trade balance showed a deficit of TND 16,543 million during the first 11 months of 2023, compared with a deficit of TND 23,296.5 million during the same period in 2022. The coverage rate increased by 8.1 points to 77.2% compared to the same period in 2022, according to the foreign trade note at current prices for November 2023, published by the National Institute of Statistics (INS) on Sunday.
This deficit is mainly due to the deficit recorded with certain countries such as China (TND-7,759.6 million), Russia (TND -6,385.1 mln), Algeria (TND -3,932.9 mln), Turkey (TND-3,002.7mln), Brazil (TND -1,227.9 mln) and Egypt (TND-804.4 mln).
On the other hand, the balance of trade with other countries recorded a surplus, mainly with France (TND 5,340 mln), Germany (TND 2,587.6 mln), Italy (TND 1,346.5 mln) and Libya (TND 2,098.7 mln).
On the other hand, the trade deficit excluding energy fell to TND 7,432.7 mln. The energy deficit amounted to TND 9,110.3 mln (55.1% of the total deficit) compared to TND 9,195.1
mlnin the eleven months of 2002.
Exports up by 7.6%
The results of Tunisia’s foreign trade at current prices during the eleven months of 2023 show that exports increased by 7.6% compared with +24% during the same period in 2022. They reached the level of TND 56,114.1 mln against TND 52,149 mln during the eleven months of 2022.
The increase in exports was spread across several sectors. Exports of food and drink rose by 14.1%, textiles, clothing and leather by 8.4% and machinery and electrical equipment by 16.8%. On the other hand, exports of energy fell by 23.5% and exports of mining, phosphates and derivatives by 25.7%.
Imports down by 3.7%
Imports fell by 3.7%, compared with an increase of 33% over the same period in 2022. In value terms, imports reached TND 72,657 mln compared with TND 75,445.5 mln in 2022.
The decline in imports is due to the fall in imports of energy products (-8.1%) and raw materials and semi-finished goods (-7.1%). Imports of capital goods and consumer goods increase by 2.4% and 2
.3% respectively.
Geographical breakdown of trade
Tunisia’s exports to the European Union (71% of total exports) increased by 13%. This trend is explained by the increase in exports to several European partners, such as France (+10.6%), Italy (+19.9%), Germany (+11.2%), Spain (+22.1%) and the Netherlands (10.3%). Exports to Arab countries increased with Algeria (+21%) and Libya (+8.2%), and decreased with Egypt (-18.5%) and Morocco (-3.7%).
Imports from the European Union (43.5% of total imports) fell by 7.3% to 3,137 million tonnes. Imports from France fell by 3.1%, from Italy by 17.7% and from Spain by 14.4%. They increased by 18% in Germany and by 23.2% in the Netherlands.
Outside the European Union, imports increased with Russia (+139.2%), Brazil (+28.7%), Switzerland (+8.9%) and the United Kingdom (+15.3%). They fell with Turkey (-24.1%), China (-2.9%) and the United States (-15.4%).
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse