Tunisia flag Tunisia: Economic and Political Overview

Foreign trade figures of Tunisia

Foreign Trade in Figures

Tunisia's foreign trade represents 111% of its GDP (World Bank, latest data available). According to figures from the Ministry of Commerce, in 2022 exports were led by mechanical and electrical industries (42.6%), textile and clothing (15.9%), agricultural products (11.8%), energy products (7.9%), and mining products (6.3%). As per imports, the mechanical and electrical industries had the lion’s share (36.3%), ahead of energy products (18.3%), agricultural and food products (13%), and textiles (9.3%).

The European Union is Tunisia's main trading partner, accounting for 67,5% of its exports and 44.2% of its imports. On a country level, exports are mainly directed towards France (22.2%), Italy (16.8%), Germany (12.9%), Spain (4.5%), and Libya (4.3%); whereas imports come chiefly from Italy (14.5%), China (10.5%), France (10%), Turkey (6.1%), and Germany (5.4% - data Ministry of Commerce). Tunisia has pursued an active policy of enhancing its trade with the rest of Africa. In this regard, Tunisia signed a trade cooperation agreement with Ghana in 2019. In the same year, the Tunisian Parliament ratified the country's official accession to the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA, a joint free trade area with twenty member states stretching from Libya to Swaziland). Furthermore, Tunisia is seeking to join the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and is a signatory to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Click here for a list of the FTAs signed by Tunisia.

Tunisia's trade balance is structurally negative: according to the World Bank, the deficit stood at around 12% of GDP in 2022. In the same year, exports reached USD 18.5 billion (+11.2%), with imports increasing at a faster pace (+18.5%), totalling USD 26.6 billion. Concerning services, exports stood at USD 4.4 billion against USD 3.2 of imports (+52.6% and +17.4% y-o-y, respectively). According to preliminary figures from the National Statistical Institute, exports increased by 7.9% y-o-y in 2023, reaching TND 62,077.3 million. As for imports, there was a decrease of 4.4% (TND 79,146.3 million).

 
Foreign Trade Values 20182019202020212022
Imports of Goods (million USD) 22,69821,56418,36022,48626,656
Exports of Goods (million USD) 15,53514,93313,79916,68918,561
Imports of Services (million USD) 3,2163,0472,2342,7933,280
Exports of Services (million USD) 3,8554,1742,1832,9334,478

Source: World Trade Organisation (WTO) ; Latest available data

Foreign Trade Indicators 20182019202020212022
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) 103.9102.384.294.4107.4
Trade Balance (million USD) -6,045-5,498-3,535-4,665n/a
Trade Balance (Including Service) (million USD) -5,406-4,372-3,586-4,526n/a
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 2.5-8.4-16.610.99.5
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 4.6-4.2-20.011.85.9
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 58.456.446.352.259.2
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 45.546.038.042.148.2

Source: World Bank ; Latest available data

Foreign Trade Forecasts 20232024 (e)2025 (e)2026 (e)2027 (e)
Volume of exports of goods and services (Annual % change) 7.00.91.93.53.5
Volume of imports of goods and services (Annual % change) 4.24.63.04.53.6

Source: IMF, World Economic Outlook ; Latest available data

Note: (e) Estimated Data

 
International Economic Cooperation
Tunisia is a member of the following international economic organisations: IMF, Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD), ICC, Arab Monetary Fund (AMF), WTO, G-77, Arab League, among others. For the full list of economic and other international organisations in which participates Tunisia click here. International organisation membership of Tunisia is also outlined here.
Free Trade Agreements
The complete and up-to-date list of Free Trade Agreements signed by Tunisia can be consulted here.
 

Main Partner Countries

Main Customers
(% of Exports)
2022
France 22.3%
Italy 16.8%
Germany 12.9%
Spain 4.5%
Libya 4.3%
See More Countries 39.2%
Main Suppliers
(% of Imports)
2022
Italy 14.6%
China 10.5%
France 10.4%
Türkiye 6.1%
Algeria 6.0%
See More Countries 52.5%

Source: Comtrade, 2023. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.

 
 

Main Products

18.6 bn USD of products exported in 2022
Insulated "incl. enamelled or anodised" wire,...Insulated "incl. enamelled or anodised" wire, cable "incl. coaxial cable" and other insulated electric conductors, whether or not fitted with connectors; optical fibre cables, made up of individually sheathed fibres, whether or not assembled with electric conductors or fitted with connectors 12.8%
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude 4.6%
Olive oil and its fractions obtained from the...Olive oil and its fractions obtained from the fruit of the olive tree solely by mechanical or other physical means under conditions that do not lead to deterioration of the oil, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified 4.3%
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals (excl. crude); preparations containing >= 70% by weight of petroleum oils or of oils obtained from bituminous minerals, these oils being the basic constituents of the preparations, n.e.s.; waste oils containing mainly petroleum or bituminous minerals 3.3%
Men's or boys' suits, ensembles, jackets, blazers,...Men's or boys' suits, ensembles, jackets, blazers, trousers, bib and brace overalls, breeches and shorts (excl. knitted or crocheted, wind-jackets and similar articles, separate waistcoats, tracksuits, ski suits and swimwear) 3.2%
See More Products 71.8%
26.7 bn USD of products imported in 2022
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals (excl. crude); preparations containing >= 70% by weight of petroleum oils or of oils obtained from bituminous minerals, these oils being the basic constituents of the preparations, n.e.s.; waste oils containing mainly petroleum or bituminous minerals 8.8%
Petroleum gas and other gaseous hydrocarbonsPetroleum gas and other gaseous hydrocarbons 6.0%
Wheat and meslinWheat and meslin 3.3%
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude 3.0%
Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally...Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons, incl. station wagons and racing cars (excl. motor vehicles of heading 8702) 2.8%
See More Products 76.2%

Source: Comtrade, 2023. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.

 
 

To go further, check out our service Import Export Flows.

 

Main Services

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, 2023. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.

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Latest Update: March 2024