According to data released by the National Observatory of Agriculture (ONA), Tunisia's food trade balance has shown a significant improvement, registering a surplus of 983.1 million dinars as of August 2026. This represents a 43.7% increase compared to the same period in 2025, when the surplus was 684.1 million dinars. The observatory attributed this growth to an increase in exports outpacing imports.
The coverage rate, which measures the ratio of exports to imports, has also improved, reaching 119.3% during the first eight months of 2026. This is a notable increase from the same period in 2025. The ONA data showed that exports rose by 20.7%, reaching 6 billion dinars as of August 2026, up from 5 billion dinars in the same period of 2025.
The growth in exports is largely attributed to an increase in olive oil exports, which rose by 39.5% during the period. The average export price of olive oil was 12.51 dinars per kilogram, however, which represents a 2.5% decrease from the previous year. Other export products, such as seafood and citrus fruits, experienced price drops of 7.2% and 12%, respectively.
On the import side, the value of imports increased by 17.1% to reach 5 billion dinars during the first eight months of 2026, up from 4.3 billion dinars in the same period of 2025. However, import prices for certain products decreased, including wheat, which fell by 13.5% for hard wheat and 3.3% for soft wheat. Corn prices also dropped by 2.1%.
Despite these decreases, some imported products experienced price increases, including barley, which rose by 3.6%, and sugar, which increased by 9.7%. Vegetable oils also saw a 3.3% price hike. In contrast, prices for milk and dairy products declined by 7.7%.
The improvement in the food trade balance is a positive sign for Tunisia's economy, which has been facing challenges in recent years. The country's efforts to boost agricultural production and exports are likely contributing factors to this growth. Further analysis of the data will be necessary to understand the underlying trends and make informed predictions about future developments.
The National Observatory of Agriculture will likely continue to monitor and report on the country's agricultural sector, providing valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders. As Tunisia looks to strengthen its economic ties with other countries, including Côte d'Ivoire, the growth in its food trade balance could help support these efforts.
Key points
- Tunisia's food trade balance records a surplus of 983.1 million dinars as of August 2026.
- The surplus represents a 43.7% increase from the same period in 2025.
- Olive oil exports drive growth, rising by 39.5% during the period.
