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Export growth but deficit in food trade balance
Tunisia
Tuesday 03 October 2017
FJ
Tunisia recorded remarkable growth rates for its exports of vegetables (+ 15%) or summer fruits (+ 31%) but its food trade balance is in deficit.
Paradoxical situation for imports / exports in Tunisia where there is trade balance of food deficit despite the remarkable increase of exports of agricultural products.
Exports of agricultural products in the first 8 months of 2017 increased by 13% compared to the same period in 2016. Revenue from fresh vegetable exports increased by 15% and exports of summer fruits + 31%. Despite a decline in some products (citrus, canned), the diversification of markets (more than 70 destinations) led to an overall increase.
Over the same period the value of food imports increased by 21%. Due mainly to higher world prices, depreciation of the domestic currency and growth in domestic demand. The value of imports increased for sugar (+ 98%), vegetable oils (+ 90%), soft wheat (+ 17%) and bananas (+ 14%). The decline for potatoes (43%), barley (14%) and durum wheat (11%) was explained by the increase in local production, which led to a decline in imported quantities.
source : gnet tn
