Trade deficit in October widens to 1,556.3 MD [Upd 1]

(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

INS publishes results of survey of 991 industrialists

(TAP) – The National Institute of Statistics (INS) has published the results of a survey conducted with heads of industrial companies on the situation of their companies and the prospects of their activities during the third quarter of 2021.

 

This survey was conducted during the period from September 1 to November 1, 2021.

 

The results of this survey, based on a sampling of 991 industrial companies, concern the opinions of business leaders on the general situation of the industrial sector, particularly at the level of production and demand, in addition to their opinions concerning the situation of their companies during the third quarter of the year 2021 and the prospects of the fourth quarter of the same year.

 

This survey aims in particular to evaluate the current activity of the industrial sector during the third quarter of 2021 and to estimate the prospects of its evolution during the fourth quarter.

 

The results show that opinions on the general situation in the third quarter of 2021 have not changed much, with a slight increase in overall opinions in the fourth quarter of 2021.

 

Industrialists’ opinions also remain unchanged on the level of industrial production growth during the third quarter of 2021, compared to the second quarter of 2021.

 

The same is true of the forecast for growth in demand for industrial products in the third quarter of 2021, compared with the previous quarter of the same year.

 

Source: TAP News Agency

Majidi calls for drafting manual setting all safety rules for oil quay

(TAP) – Transport Minister Rabii Majidi recommended Friday, to draft a unified procedures manual setting all safety rules for the operation of the oil quay of the Rades port and the follow-up of their implementation.

 

He also called, during his visit, Friday, to the south bank of the Rades port on the occasion of the launching of the exploitation of the oil quay, for the establishment of monitoring mechanisms and the guarantee of urgent intervention in coordination with the representatives of the oil companies that operate the quay, the port administration and the competent authorities.

 

The first ship docked at the quay, which has been the focus of a two-year maintenance and development operation at a cost of more than 9 million dinars, according to a statement from the Ministry of Transport.

 

This quay will allow the unloading of hydrocarbons imported by companies based in the oil zone of Rades according to international standards and in compliance with the strictest safety rules.

 

The oil quay will also make it possible to accommodate larger ships and will relieve the pressure on the port’s multi-purpose quay, which will reduce the waiting time for ships at the port and avoid additional waiting fines.

 

Source: TAP News Agency

International Conference on Libya in Paris: PM meets with Ivory Coast President

(TAP) – Prime Minister Nejla Bouden met on Friday in Paris with Ivory Coast President Alhassan Ouattara on the sidelines of the “International Conference on Libya” which started this afternoon in the French capital.

 

In a statement after the meeting, Bouden stressed the deep and close relations between Tunisia and Ivory Coast, indicating that she had conveyed to the Ivorian president the greetings of President Kais Said.

 

The Prime Minister also extended an official invitation to the Ivorian President to attend the Francophonie Summit to be held in Tunisia in November 2022 in Djerba, and the 8th Summit of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 8) to be held in Tunisia in September 2022.

 

The meeting focused on economic diplomacy and ways to promote bilateral cooperation between the two countries in several areas, such as the pharmaceutical industry and agri-food.

 

The work of the “International Conference on Libya” initiated by France, Germany and Italy, started on Friday afternoon in Paris with the participation of 20 heads of state.

 

Source: TAP News Agency

International Conference on Libya in Paris: PM meets with Egyptian President

(TAP) – Prime Minister Najla Bouden met on Friday in Paris with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sissi on the sidelines of the International Conference on Libya.

 

“The Prime Minister stressed on this occasion that relations between Tunisia and Egypt have experienced a qualitative leap, especially during the last period thanks to the permanent exchange between the two countries’ presidents on African and international issues, especially since Tunisia is a member of the UN Security Council,” Foreign Minister Othman Jerandi told TAP correspondent in Paris.

 

For his part, the Egyptian president praised the cooperation ties between Tunisia and Egypt, highlighting Tunisia’s leadership in many fields and its experience in democratic transition.

 

He also stressed the importance of further strengthening communication between Tunisia and Egypt in order to raise relations between the two countries to an optimal level and meet the aspirations of the Tunisian and Egyptian people for progress and prosperity.

 

Source: TAP News Agency

Tunisia stands by Libya to carry out presidential elections (FM)

(TAP) – Tunisia stands by Libya to carry out its presidential election, scheduled for December 24, said Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad Othman Jerandi.

 

«Tunisia’s position is firm and constant in favour of the Libyan people’s choice, he told TAP on the fringes of the opening of the Paris International Conference on Libya.

 

Jerandi stressed the need to hold Libyan elections within the set deadline, in accordance with the roadmap, which should outline the future of the country.

 

The aim is to restore security in Libya and strengthen stability in neighbouring countries.

 

«The issue of stability in Libya is a very important challenge, not only for the Libyans but also for the neighbouring countries and the Mediterranean region,» the Minister indicated.

 

He considered that the current Paris Summit, organised by France, Germany and Italy, «comes a few weeks before the presidential and legislative elections in Libya, and is therefore of the utmost importance.»

 

Tunisia has held numerous consultations with Libya’s neighbouring countries and is directly following this issue by contacting the Libyan «brothers» on this subject, Jerandi said.

 

«Foreign mercenaries must withdraw from Libya, given the serious threat they pose, not only to Libya and its transition process but also to the entire region.»

 

The Paris Summit on Libya opened on Thursday evening in the French capital with the participation of the United Nations, Germany and Italy.

 

It brings together some twenty heads of state and government, including Prime Minister Najla Bouden.

 

Source: TAP News Agency