In the first quarter of 2026, Tunisia’s foreign trade increased, with exports reaching 16,266.8 million dinars (about 5.2 billion dollars) compared to 15,325.1 million dinars a year earlier. Imports amounted to 21,499.5 million dinars (about 6.9 billion dollars) compared to 20,374.6 million dinars in 2025. Boosted by a rise in exports (+6.1%) and imports (+5.5%), transactions resulted in a trade deficit of 5,232.7 million dinars (about 1.67 billion dollars), compared to 5,049.5 million dinars a year earlier. The coverage rate slightly improved to 75.7% from 75.2%.
Exports increased in mechanical and electrical industries (+10.6%) and agri-food industries (+16.1%), supported by olive oil sales which increased from 1,442.3 MD (about 462 million dollars) to 1,991.6 MD (about 637 million dollars). The energy sector also grew (+6.2%), thanks to refined products which increased from 78.2 MD (about 25 million dollars) to 247.5 MD (about 79 million dollars). However, mining and phosphates (-20.3%) as well as textiles (-5%) declined.
On the import side, all categories increased: food products (+13.9%), capital goods (+5.3%), energy (+4.2%), consumer goods (+4.9%), and raw materials (+4.5%).
Trade partners:
Exports to the European Union (71.5% of total) reached 11,628.1 MD (about 3.72 billion dollars), an increase compared to 2025. Sales grew to France (+10.6%), Italy (+4%), and Germany (+3.3%), but declined to the Netherlands (-15.9%) and Greece (-29.8%).
In the Arab world, exports surged to Egypt (+52.9%) and Saudi Arabia (+80.6%), but dropped to Morocco (-39.5%), Algeria, and Libya (-22.2%).
Imports from the EU (45.2% of total) reached 9,722.5 MD (about 3.11 billion dollars), increasing with France (+21.9%) and Italy (+13.8%), but decreasing with Spain (-4.1%) and Greece (-21.2%). Outside the EU, purchases increased from Turkey (+6.3%) and India (+39.5%), but decreased with Russia (-61.6%) and China (-7.3%).
The overall deficit mainly comes from energy (2,990.4 MD, about 957 million dollars), raw materials (1,601.4 MD, about 512 million dollars), capital goods (977 MD, about 313 million dollars), and consumer goods (462.2 MD, about 148 million dollars). Conversely, food shows a surplus of 798.3 MD (about 256 million dollars).
Excluding energy, the trade deficit is limited to 2,242.3 MD (about 718 million dollars), while the energy deficit reaches 2,990.4 MD (about 957 million dollars).
