Tunisia’s trade deficit worsened by 11% in 2024, reaching 18.927 billion dinars, compared to 17.069 billion in 2023, according to data published Monday January 13 by the National Institute of Statistics (INS). The coverage rate of imports by exports fell by 1.8 points, standing at 76.6% in 2024.
Tunisian exports remained stable, reaching 62.077 billion dinars, after an increase of 7.9% in 2023. Imports, on the other hand, increased by 2.3%, reaching 81.005 billion dinars, against 79.146 billion in 2023. marking a reversal from the 4.4% decline recorded the previous year.
Sector analysis
The stability of exports in 2024 is explained by a notable increase in agri-food sales (+14.6%), a slight increase in the energy sector (+0.5%) and a modest gain in the mechanical and electrical industry ( +1.2%). On the other hand, exports of mining products, phosphates and their derivatives fell by 26.3%, while those of textiles, clothing and leather fell by 4.8%.
On the import side, the increase is explained by an increase in purchases of energy products (+9.1%), capital goods (+5.6%) and consumer goods (+6.3%). . On the other hand, imports of raw materials and semi-finished products (-2.6%) as well as food products (-6.1%) decreased.
Commercial relations with Morocco
Despite a worrying overall deficit, Tunisia recorded a trade surplus with Morocco, amounting to 267.8 million dinars in 2024. This surplus reflects a favorable balance in bilateral trade and contrasts with the persistent deficits recorded with other trading partners such as China (-9.071 billion dinars), Russia (-5.384 billion), Algeria (-4.357 billion), Turkey (-2.844 billion) or even India (-1.470 billion).
The energy deficit has contributed significantly to the global imbalance. This reached 10.869 billion dinars in 2024, an increase compared to the 9.665 billion recorded in 2023. Excluding the energy sector, the overall trade deficit amounts to 8.058 billion dinars.
This development underlines the need for Tunisia, very dependent on Algeria, to diversify its trade and strengthen its commercial relations with its surplus partners, such as Morocco, in order to limit dependence on energy imports and other strategic products.
