Exports of this mineral have fallen sharply – The New Tribune

The Tunisian phosphate industry is experiencing a major setback. According to the latest data from the National Institute of Statistics, exports of phosphates and their derivatives fell by 30.4% in the first half of 2024. This significant decline is part of a complex economic backdrop for the country.

Tunisia’s trade balance showed mixed results. While the phosphate sector encountered difficulties, other sectors showed significant growth. Agricultural exports increased by 45.7%, driven by a significant increase in olive oil sales. This figure reached 3.4 billion dinars, compared to 1.8 billion dinars in the same period last year.

Tunisia’s energy sector faces major challenges. Energy imports grew by 17.5%, and the energy balance deficit widened, now at 5.7 billion dinars. This situation has a significant impact on the country’s overall trade deficit.

The difficulties in the phosphate industry are partly due to logistical issues. Abdelkader Amaydi, general manager of Gafsa Phosphates Company, revealed at a parliamentary committee that 3.2 million tonnes of commercial phosphates are ready for transport to processing units. However, rail transport only provides three trips per day, causing supply chain bottlenecks.

The impact of the crisis on the Tunisian economy has been enormous. Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy Fatma Thabet Chiboub stressed that the contribution of the phosphate sector to total exports has fallen to 3%, compared to fluctuating between 10% and 12% before 2011.

Other industrial sectors also encountered difficulties. Exports of textiles, clothing and leather fell by 9.2% during the same period. On the other hand, the mechanical and electrical industry grew slightly by 0.4%.

On the import side, Tunisia saw a small decline of 0.04% in the first half of 2024. This decline was mainly due to a 5.3% decrease in imports of raw materials and semi-finished products, which accounted for 34% of total imports. At the same time, imports of equipment and consumer goods increased by 1.1% and 2.7%, respectively.