Tunisia reports industrial growth and rising date exports

Tunisia's industrial production grew by 2.9% in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, according to the National Institute of Statistics (INS). This growth was driven by a 123.4% surge in oil refining, which recovered following several shutdowns in 2025, and increases in the agro-food (+9.3%) and mechanical and electrical (+4%) sectors.

However, several sectors experienced declines, including chemistry (-9.2%), mining (-3.5%), energy (-4%), and textiles (-3.4%).

In the agricultural sector, Tunisian date exports rose by 13.3% during the first ten months of the 2025-2026 campaign, reaching 144,100 tonnes. Export revenues increased by 12.2% to 908.4 million dinars. The Deglet Nour variety accounts for 84% of export volumes. Tunisia currently exports dates to approximately 86 markets, with the European Union receiving 45.7% of exports, followed by Africa (22.9%) and Asia (19.6%). Organic date exports also grew in volume by 8.1%, with Germany serving as the primary destination for organic varieties.