Tunisia's foreign trade sees strong export growth to Egypt and Saudi Arabia

Tunisia's foreign trade figures for the first five months of 2026 reveal a dynamic shift in export destinations, with significant growth recorded towards Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Exports to Egypt more than doubled, surging by 110%, while shipments to Saudi Arabia increased by nearly 60%. This expansion highlights emerging opportunities beyond traditional markets.

The European Union continues to be Tunisia's primary trading partner, representing 71.5% of all foreign sales, totaling 20.13 billion dinars. Exports to France saw a 6.7% increase, and Italy experienced a 3.5% rise. However, trade with Germany slightly declined by 1.3%, and the Netherlands saw a more marked decrease of 11.3%.

Conversely, trade with several Maghreb partners has slowed. Exports to Morocco fell by 37.7%, with Algeria down 26% and Libya by 20.5%. This indicates a recalibration of regional trade relationships.

On the import side, the EU remains Tunisia's leading supplier, accounting for 44.2% of total imports, amounting to 17.05 billion dinars. Imports from France grew by 17.3%, and from Italy by 10.7%. Outside the EU, imports from India increased by 23.6%, and from Turkey by 6.2%. In contrast, imports from Russia plummeted by 40.1%, with a slight decrease from China (-1.9%).

These statistics underscore Tunisia's strong reliance on the European market for both exports and imports. However, they also point to a gradual diversification of trade partners, with notable growth in certain Arab and Asian markets.