The coverage rate of imports by exports fell to 81.5% in July from 92.3% in June, the National Institute of Statistics (French: INS) said on Wednesday in a note on foreign trade at constant prices (July 2023). The volume of exports shrank 5.2% compared to June, while the volume of imports regained pace with a 7.3% rise following a 14.5% drop in June. "A lower volume of exports is the consequence of plummeting exports of the sectors of mining, phosphates, and derivatives (-58.3%), textile, clothing and leather (-10.4%) and mechanical and electrical engineering industries (-3.1%). Meanwhile, sectors such as agriculture and agro-food industries edged up 14.8%. This, coupled with a 12.4% uptick in the energy sector. The prices of exports inched up 0.8% up from June's quasi-stability of 0.1%. Similarly, import prices grew 4% in July, marking a departure from a 0.5% dip in June. Imports of capital goods fall 18.6% -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Higher imports are driven by increased national energy and raw material purchases (109% and 13.4% respectively). A decline in the volume of imports of other products was, meanwhile, reported, mainly foodstuff (-17%) and capital goods (-18.6%) which have a direct impact on the country's economic and industrial activity. Excluding energy, the volume of exports plunged 6.2%, while imports dipped 0.8 % month over month. Export prices (excluding energy) rose 1.9%, while those of imports surged 2.5% between June and July 2023. These fluctuations brought about a 0.6 point drop in June, driving the rate to 97.8%.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse