Tunisian exports to Morocco fell by 25.1% during the first eight months of 2026, according to foreign trade data released Saturday by Tunisia’s National Institute of Statistics, despite an overall increase in the country’s exports during the same period.
Tunisia’s total exports reached 44,671.6 million dinars, up 8% from 41,372.4 million dinars during the same period in 2025. Imports, meanwhile, rose 11.6% to 62,525.4 million dinars, compared with 56,011.3 million dinars a year earlier.
At the sectoral level, exports from the mechanical and electrical industries increased 8.5%, while agricultural and food industry exports rose 20.8%, driven in particular by higher olive oil sales, which reached 3,769.7 million dinars, compared with 2,702.4 million dinars during the same period in 2025. Energy exports also increased 44.3%, mainly due to higher exports of refined products, which reached 1,115.2 million dinars, compared with 504.2 million dinars a year earlier. In contrast, exports of phosphates and derivatives fell 12%, while textile, clothing and leather exports declined 4.8%.
Geographically, European Union countries accounted for 70.2% of Tunisia’s total exports during the first eight months of 2026, with exports reaching 31,346.4 million dinars, compared with 29,165.9 million dinars during the same period in 2025. Exports to France increased 3.4%, while those to Italy and Germany rose 5.2% and 2.1%, respectively. Exports to Greece and Malta, however, declined by 19.9% and 10.8%.
Outside the European Union, Tunisian exports to Arab countries showed mixed results. Exports to Egypt surged 76.6%, while those to Saudi Arabia increased 50.4%. In contrast, exports to Morocco fell 25.1%, while those to Algeria declined 13.1% and exports to Libya dropped 1.1%.
On the import side, EU countries accounted for 45.1% of Tunisia’s total imports, worth 28,175 million dinars, compared with 24,410.1 million dinars during the first eight months of 2025. Imports from France increased 17%, while those from Italy rose 16.7%. Imports from Bulgaria and Portugal, meanwhile, declined. Outside the EU, imports from Turkey, India and China increased, while those from Russia and the United Kingdom fell.
Tunisia’s trade deficit widened to 17,853.8 million dinars, compared with 14,639 million dinars during the first eight months of 2025. The import coverage ratio also fell to 71.4%, from 73.9% during the same period last year.
The overall trade deficit was mainly driven by the energy sector, which recorded a deficit of 8,930.2 million dinars, followed by raw and semi-finished materials at 4,544.1 million dinars, capital goods at 3,125.5 million dinars and consumer goods at 2,237.2 million dinars. Food products, meanwhile, recorded a surplus of 983.1 million dinars.
Excluding the energy sector, Tunisia’s trade deficit stood at 8,923.7 million dinars, while the energy deficit reached 8,930.2 million dinars, compared with 7,148 million dinars during the first eight months of 2025.
