Tunisia’s trade balance deficit widened to 4,303.8 million dinars during the first quarter (Q1) of 2022, against 3,069.3 MD in the same period last year, the National Institute of Statistics (INS) said on Tuesday.
This deficit is mainly explained by the one recorded with some countries such as China (-2,009.6 MD), Turkey (-1,356.7 MD), Algeria (-871.6 MD) and Russia (-561.7 MD), according to the INS.
However, the trade balance in goods showed a surplus with other countries mainly France (933.6 MD), Germany (914.5 MD) and Libya (490.3 MD).
The coverage rate lost 1.8 point compared to Q1 of 2021 to stand at 76.6%.
Exports and imports up in Q1 of 2022
Exports grew by 26.2% in Q1 of 2022, compared to 6.2% in the same period of the previous year, reaching 14,081.7 MD, against 11,161.9 MD in Q1 of 2021.
The increase in exports involves several sectors, including energy (+137.6%), mining, phosphates and derivatives (+152.2%), textiles/clothing and leather (+20.9%), mechanical and electrical industries (+13.3%) as well as agri-food industries (+19.7%).
Imports saw a 29.2% rise against 1.5% in Q1 of 2021.
In value, imports stood at 18,385.5 MD, against 14,231.2 MD during the same period of 2021.
The growth in imports is due to higher imports of energy (+87.2), raw materials and semi-finished products (+36.7%), consumer goods (+12.8%) and capital goods (+9.5%).
As regards the geographical breakdown, Tunisian exports to the European Union (69% of total exports) edged up 18.8%.
This is due, on the one hand, to the rise in Tunisian exports to certain European partners, such as France (7.3%), Italy (22%) and Germany (32.6%) and, on the other hand, to the fall in sales to other countries, notably the Netherlands (-28.6%) and Slovakia (-3.9%).
With the Arab countries, exports increased with Algeria (8.9%), Morocco (31.6%) and Libya (11.3%).
As for imports, trade in goods with the European Union (43.5% of total imports) rose by 12.8% to 8,002.4 MD.
Imports were up by 26.2% with France, 18.4% with Italy and down by 3.1% with Germany.
