São Paulo – Tunisia’s trade deficit became 32% narrower year-to-date through July from the year-ago period, from TND 11.1 billion (USD 4 billion) to TND 7.5 billion (USD 2.7 billion at current exchange rates). The information was released by state-run news outlet Agence Tunis Afrique Presse (TAP) quoting National Institute of Statistics numbers.
The narrower deficit stemmed from imports slowing by 23.2%, while exports decreased by 19.5%. Tunisia ran a deficit in trade with countries including China, Turkey, Algeria, Italy, and Russia. It ran a surplus with the likes of France, Germany, Libya, and Morocco.
Exports from Tunisia fetched TND 21.4 billion (USD 7.7 billion) through July 2020, down from TND 26.7 billion (USD 9.6 billion) through July 2019, with sales going down for textiles, clothing and leather, energy, the mechanical and electrical industries, and phosphates and their products. Exports went up for agricultural and agrifood items.
Imports to Tunisia amounted to TND 29 billion (USD 10.5 billion), down from TND 37.8 billion (USD 13.6 billion) through July 2019, with smaller import volumes sliding for capital goods, raw material and semi-finished goods, consumer goods, refined products, and natural gas.
Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum