Tunisia's gas output drops 13% and trade deficit widens amid rising energy imports

National gas production fell 13% year‑on‑year to 565 kt pci by April 2026, while the fiscal fee on Algerian transit gas dropped 32%. To offset the shortfall, Tunisia increased imports of Algerian gas by 12% to 921 kt pci, lifting total gas supply by 4% to 1 483 kt pci. The electricity sector consumes about 64% of natural gas, powering roughly 92% of power generation.

In the first five months of 2026 the country’s commercial deficit expanded to 10.415 billion dinars, driven largely by a 5.826 billion‑dinar energy shortfall. Exports rose 5% to 28.17 billion dinars, while imports surged 9.6% to 38.585 billion dinars, narrowing the coverage ratio to 73%. Exports to the EU remained dominant (71.5% of total), with growth to France (+6.7%) and Italy (+3.5%) and declines to Germany and the Netherlands. Trade with neighboring Maghreb markets weakened sharply: exports to Morocco fell 37.7%, to Algeria 26%, and to Libya 20.5%. Conversely, exports to Egypt doubled (+110%) and to Saudi Arabia rose (+60%).

Agricultural exports posted an 87.1 million‑dinar surplus, driven by olive‑oil shipments that jumped 44% in value and 50% in volume, making the United States the top market. Olive oil accounted for the sector’s strongest growth, while other products such as dates and citrus saw declines.