São Paulo – Tunisia’s olive oil exports totaled TND 1.835 billion (USD 910 million) from January to November 2015. Revenues increased sixfold over the same period of last year, according to data from the country’s Ministry of Agriculture. In all, 293,600 tons were shipped, with 18,000 tons of this total of the bottled product, which accounts to TND 160 million (USD 79 million).
The ministry stated also that Tunisia met completely the preferential quota of exports to the European Union with 56,700 tons, number that was established by the partnership agreement between the country and the bloc. The ministry also reported that the average price of the product increased 12.5% from 2014 to 2015.
Olive oil exports accounted for 53% of foreign food sales of the country, according to information from the news agency Tunis Afrique Presse (TAP). With the increase in shipments of the product, Tunisia posted a surplus of TND 4.4 million (USD 2.2 million) in the food trade balance from January to November. In the same period of last year, the trade balance posted a deficit.
Exports of dates, another important agricultural product of Tunisia’s, fetched 413 million TND (USD 205 million) from January to November, up 19% from a year ago, with 95,200 tons sold.
Export revenues also increased for citrus fruits, pasta, vegetable preserves and seafood. Conversely, foreign sales of fresh vegetables and summer fruit dropped.
Overall, TAP reported that food exports from Tunisia grew 100% year-to-date through November from a year ago.
Imports
Food imports were up 11.5% to 3.439 billion TND (USD 1.7 billion), driven by durum wheat, barley, sugar and potatoes. Imports of dairy, vegetable oils and meats declined.
Food exports accounted for 14% of Tunisia’s total exports and food imports were equivalent to 9.4% of total imports.
*Translated by Sérgio Kakitani & Gabriel Pomerancblum
