(TAP)- The monthly trade deficit in October widened to 1,556.3 million dinars (MD) against 1,409.3 MD in September, said the National Institute of Statistics (French: INS) in its note on foreign trade at constant prices.
The overall trade deficit is still driven by deficit figures with China and Turkey (455 MD and 283.4 MD respectively). The coverage rate fell by 1.4 percentage points compared to September to reach 72.4%.
The widening of the deficit is caused by more imports and stable exports.
Imports increasing at a slower pace
Imports have been increasing for the third month in a row yet at a slower pace. They rose 2.6% to 5, 638.1 MD due to a significant increase in energy imports (+ 74.9%).
Excluding energy products, imports dropped 7.2%. A fall in imports was seen in the majority of product groupings. Purchases of capital goods as well as raw materials and semi-finished products dropped 17.2% and -1.6%, respectively. Likewise, a decline is reported in imports of consumer goods (-8.6%) and food products (-5.4%).
An exceptional rise in imports is observed with Algeria ( 689.3% ) driven by higher gas imports. Likewise, imports from Russia followed suit (112.3%) as a result of surging barley and ammonia imports.
Tunisia’s European Union and China sales fell 5.9% and 27.6%, respectively.
Exports coming to near stagnation
Exports came to near stagnation with a 0.6% rise, amounting to 4,081.7 MD. This is due to a significant increase in exports of energy and ubricants (136.3%) against a drop in other sectors, namely mechanical and electrical engineering industries (-8, 2% ), mining, phosphate and derivatives (-21.1%) and agriculture and agro-food industry (-12.5%).
The exports of the sector of textile, clothing and leather and various manufacturing industries almost stagnated with respective increases of + 0.5% and -0.4%.
Exports to EU countries grew 2.5%, especially as far Italy and Spain are concerned (8.6% and 36.3% respectively). Exports to Germany dropped 10%. Outside the EU, a drop in exports is seen with Turkey (-84.9%) and China (-85.6%).
Source: TAP News Agency