Tunisia - (Xinhua) - Tunisia's trade deficit rose during the past nine months to 18.8 billion dinars ($5.88 billion), compared to 11.9 billion dinars ($3.71 billion) during the same period of 2021, according to official statistical data published this evening (Thursday). Tunisian National Institute of Statistics.

According to these statistical data, which came in a report on Tunisia's foreign trade, excerpts from which were published by the official Tunisian News Agency this evening, this rise coincided with "the expansion of Tunisia's energy deficit."

She explained that Tunisia's energy balance deficit represents 36.6% of Tunisia's total trade deficit, and pointed out that the value of Tunisian exports during the aforementioned period amounted to 42.2 billion dinars ($13.18 billion), an increase of 25.8% compared to the results recorded during the same period of the year 2021.

She attributed this rise to the development of the country's exports of phosphates by 72.1%, agricultural products by 32.1%, textile and clothing by 21.9%, and mechanical and electrical industries by 13.5%.

On the other hand, the country’s imports increased during the aforementioned period by 35%, to reach 61 billion dinars ($19.06 billion), as a result of an increase in Tunisia’s energy imports by 100.8%, in addition to an increase in imports of raw and semi-finished materials by 37% and consumer goods by 13.4%. %.

This caused a decrease in the percentage of imports covered by exports in Tunisia's trade balance with September 2022, by five points compared to the same period last year.