Tunisia's food trade balance achieved a surplus of 798.3 million Tunisian dinars ($285 million) in the first quarter of this year, driven largely by olive oil exports.
اضافة اعلان
According to data published by the National Observatory of Agriculture (ONAGRI), the food trade surplus rose by 30% compared to the same period in 2025. The observatory attributed this growth primarily to a 38.1% increase in olive oil exports—reinforcing Tunisia's position as one of the world's leading producers—despite a 7.7% rise in grain imports.
The government estimated olive oil production for the 2025/2026 season at approximately 500,000 tons, a 47% increase over the previous season. Of this total, about 300,000 tons are designated for export.
Total Trade Deficit Challenges
Despite the food sector's success, Tunisia's overall trade deficit grew by 3.6% in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period in 2025, reaching an estimated $1.8 billion.
The National Institute of Statistics (INS) attributed this deficit to the widening energy balance gap, which alone exceeded $1 billion. This increase comes amid oil supply disruptions and rising prices fueled by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
