Agriculture plays a significant role in the Tunisian economy, forming 9.8% of GDP and providing 14.0% of total employment. Agricultural production is mainly concentrated in the northern coastal regions, while the southern part of the country, covered by the Sahara Desert, is poorly suited for agriculture. Tunisia has a severe shortage of water for irrigation, exacerbated by frequent natural disasters and low soil fertility. For example, the drought of 2023 caused significant damage to the country's agricultural sector (USDA estimates that the gross wheat harvest in 2023/2024 was reduced by more than 2.5 times relative to 2022/2023).
In the category of vegetables, root and tuber crops, the most common crop is tomatoes, the production of which in 2022 amounted to 1.2 million tons. The country also produced about 400.0 thousand tons of potatoes in 2022, as well as 289.1 thousand tons of onions and scallions. In the category of fruits and berries, the most common is the production of watermelons (450.0 thousand tons in 2022), dates (369.0 thousand tons) and oranges (345.0 thousand tons).
Cereal crop production in Tunisia in 2022 exceeded 1.7 million tons, including 1.1 million tons of wheat and 521.0 thousand tons of barley. However, the country's production of these crops is insufficient to meet domestic needs, and cereals are among Tunisia's main imports.
Along with other countries of the Mediterranean region, Tunisia is one of the world's largest producers of olives and olive oil. In 2022 the gross harvest of olives was about 1.2 million tons, in 2021 - 700 thousand tons. The production volumes of this crop vary from year to year due to the peculiarities of olive tree fruiting. Annual olive oil production in Tunisia averages more than 200 thousand tons depending on the year of fruit ripening. The record volumes of gross olive harvest and olive oil production were reached in 2020, which, among other things, allowed the country to significantly increase exports of these products. On average, olive oil accounts for about one-third of Tunisia's agricultural exports.
The livestock sector also plays an important role in the country's economy. Tunisia is developing dairy and beef cattle breeding, which, unlike crop production, is less exposed to natural disasters - pastures are located in both the northern and arid southern regions. Cow's milk production in 2022 amounted to 1.4 million tons, down from the record high of 2022, compared to the record high of 2021 by 2.0%. In 2018-2022, production ranged from 1.3-1.4 million tons. The most common type of meat in the country is poultry meat, with production volume of 242.0 thousand tons of products in 2022 (+1.3% relative to 2021) and increasing in 2018-2022 on average by 2.1% per year. The main share in the structure of poultry meat production is chicken meat (63.1% in 2022), the remaining part (36.9%) is turkey. In addition to poultry meat, the country produces mutton (59.5 thousand tons in 2022) and beef (50.5 thousand tons). The production of chicken eggs in Tunisia in 2022 amounted to about 1.84 billion pcs.
Production of fish and seafood in the country in 2022 amounted to about 155.9 thousand tons. The development of this segment is facilitated by Tunisia's favorable geographical position on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and relatively shallow shelf, a long coastline (1,148 km), as well as more than 40 fishing ports. Fish and seafood catches show unstable dynamics from year to year, while Tunisia's aquaculture sector is actively developing and currently provides the domestic market with more than 26,000 tons of products.
In 2022, Tunisia's agricultural imports totaled $3.4 billion, up 31.9% ($829.4 million) from 2021.The volume of agricultural imports increased at an average annual rate of 9.5% in 2018-2022.
At the end of 2022, Tunisia's import structure was dominated by wheat (25.5% of imports in value terms or USD 875.1 million). Soybeans (8.7% or US$299.2 million), corn (8.6% or US$296.6 million), barley (8.1% or US$279.4 million) and soybean oil (4.9% or US$168.0 million) were also in the top 5 imported agricultural products. Cumulatively, the top 10 commodities accounted for 72.3% of Tunisia's agricultural imports in value terms.
In 2022, the largest year-on-year increase was observed in imports of wheat (+47.9% or +283.3 million USD), soybean oil (2.4 times or +100.6 million USD), beet and cane sugar (2.0 times or +161.7 million USD), palm oil (2.1 times or +65.8 million USD), and coffee (+55.6% or +35.2 million USD). A decrease was noted in purchases of cigars and cigarettes (-16.0% or USD 17.5 million).
The largest exporters of agricultural products to Tunisia in 2022 were Brazil (8.6% of Tunisia's agribusiness imports in value terms), the United States (7.5%), and France (7.4%). Cumulatively, the top 10 countries accounted for 62.5% of Tunisia's agricultural imports in value terms. Over 2018-2022, Tunisia significantly increased purchases from Bulgaria (12-fold or +$171.4 million), Romania (8.5-fold or +218.8 million), Turkey (4.1-fold or +$113.8 million) and Argentina (3.5-fold or +$173.7 million).
Grain supplies to Tunisia account for more than 40% of the country's agricultural imports. In 2022, Tunisia purchased on foreign markets 3.5 million tons of cereals worth USD 1.5 billion, which is 10.1% lower than the 2021 values in volume terms (or by 391.4 thousand tons) and 29.6% higher in value terms (by USD 337.5 million). The average annual growth rate of grain imports in 2018-2022 was 16.1% in value terms. Purchases in volume terms peaked in 2020, when imports amounted to 4.4 million tons (mainly due to increased supplies of barley and corn).
In the structure of Tunisia's cereal imports in 2022, wheat accounted for the largest share with 59.2% of imports in value terms or USD 875.1 million. Corn (20.1% or US$296.6 million), barley (18.9% or US$279.4 million), rice (1.6% or US$23.6 million) and grain sorghum (0.1% or US$1.6 million) were also among the top imported products. Cumulatively, these categories accounted for 99.9% of cereal crop imports in value terms.
In 2022, a significant increase was observed in supplies of rice and wheat. Thus, compared to 2021, the volume of rice purchases increased by 91.3% (+14.3 thousand tons) in volume terms and 2.3 times (+13.4 million USD) in value terms. Wheat supplies increased by 47.9% (+283.3 mln USD) in value terms and practically did not change in volume terms.
Among the largest grain exporting countries to Tunisia in 2022, Romania ranked first, accounting for 16.5% of imports in value terms (US$243.2 million). The basis of Romanian exports was wheat and barley. The second largest supplier of cereals to Tunisia is Ukraine with the volume of supplies in 2022 at the level of 555.3 thousand tons (mainly wheat and corn) worth $186.2 million (12.6% of imports in value terms). Bulgaria also exported significant amounts of cereals - 426.6 thousand tons worth USD 183.3 million (12.4% of imports in value terms), the basis of the country's exports was wheat. In total, the top 10 countries accounted for 88.4% of Tunisia's grain imports in value terms.
The largest growth in 2022 was observed in shipments from France - the country's exports recovered after a sharp decline in 2021 due to an increase in shipments of barley (+186.4 thousand tons) and wheat (+162.8 thousand tons). Exports of Italy and Spain in 2022 increased more than 3 times in volume terms, due to a significant increase in shipments of wheat (+108.6 thousand tons from Italy and +77.1 thousand tons from Spain) and barley (+47.8 thousand tons from Spain). Romania continued to increase exports of agricultural products, which in 2022 almost doubled in volume terms (+292.3 thousand tons) and increased 2.8 times in value terms (+157.9 million USD), which was due to the growth of wheat supplies (+292.3 thousand tons). This was due to the growth in supplies of wheat (+142.6 thousand tons) and barley (+96.9 thousand tons). At the same time, there was a significant decrease in supplies from Ukraine, Canada and Russia.
Tunisia is one of the largest suppliers of olive oil to the world market and a net importer of other types of vegetable oils. In 2022, Tunisia imported 312.9 thousand tons of vegetable oils and fats worth USD 464.2 million, up 64.0% (+122.2 thousand tons) in volume terms and 2.1 times (+USD 247.6 million) in value terms from 2021. The volume of purchases of this type of agricultural products in foreign markets in 2018-2022 annually increased by an average of 8.5% in volume terms and 26.7% in value terms.
In the structure of Tunisia's vegetable oils and fats imports in value terms in 2022, soybean oil (36.2% of value imports) and palm oil (26.4%) accounted for the majority of shipments. The top five products also included corn oil (16.6%), sunflower oil (8.3%) and rapeseed oil (3.8%), shipments of which started in notable volumes in 2022 from Russia and Belarus.
Significant import growth rates among vegetable oils and fats in 2022 were observed practically for all main types of products. Thus, as compared to 2022, the volume of sunflower oil purchases increased 2.7 times in volume terms and 3.0 times in value terms (+17.1 thousand tons and +25.9 million USD), supplies of soybean oil increased by 76, 5% in volume terms and 2.4 times in value terms (+50.1 thousand tons and +100.6 million USD), imports of palm oil - by 58.5% in volume terms and 2.1 times in value terms (+33.6 thousand tons and +65.8 million USD).
Indonesia was the leading exporter of vegetable oils and fats to Tunisia in 2022, accounting for 31.1% (US$144.3 million) of imports in value terms. The country supplied mainly palm oil, as well as coconut and palm kernel oils. Turkey (19.9% or USD 92.5 million) was also among the five leaders in terms of vegetable oils and fats exports to Tunisia with shipments of soybean oil, Russia (14.2% or $65.7 million) with shipments of soybean, sunflower and rapeseed oils, Brazil (12.1% or $56.0 million) and Argentina (4.9% or $22.6 million), which supplied mainly corn oil. In total, the top 10 countries accounted for 92.7% of Tunisia's vegetable oils and fats imports in value terms.
The largest increase in 2022 was observed in supplies from Turkey and Russia. Turkey repeatedly increased supplies of vegetable oils and fats to Tunisia - from 8.9 thousand tons in 2021 to 59.3 thousand tons in 2022. Russia's exports increased 2.6 times (+28.6 thousand tons) in volume terms and 3.5 times (+47.2 million USD) in value terms. At the same time, there was a decrease in supplies from Argentina - by 55.1% (-18.5 thousand tons) in volume terms and by 40.5% (-15.4 million USD) in value terms.
Soybeans are consistently among the top five main imported agricultural products of Tunisia. In 2022, Tunisia imported 521.6 thousand tons of oilseeds worth US$330.2 million, down 3.7% (-19.9 thousand tons) from 2021 in volume terms, but up 4.1% (+$13.1 million) in value terms. Imports of Tunisian oilseeds annually decreased on average by 6.8% in volume terms and increased by 2.4% in value terms.
In the structure of Tunisia's oilseed imports in 2022, soybeans accounted for the majority of supplies (90.6% of imports in value terms or USD 299.2 million).
The country also makes significant purchases of sesame seeds (5.5% or US$ 18.2 million), peanuts (1.4% or US$ 4.7 million) and sunflower seeds (1.3% or US$ 4.3 million).
The highest import growth rates among oilseeds in 2022 were demonstrated by sesame seeds. Thus, in relation to 2021 the volume of purchases of this product increased by 24.1% (+2.4 thousand tons) in volume terms and by 50.7% (+6.1 million USD) in value terms.
Among the largest oilseed exporting countries to Tunisia in 2022, the United States and Brazil occupied the leading positions, accounting for 58.8% (194.3 million US dollars) and 31.8% (149.9 million US dollars) of imports in value terms, respectively. Traditionally, these countries supplied mainly soybeans.
Sudan is the main supplier of sesame seeds and in 2022 provided 4.2% (US$14.0 million) of imports in value terms. Shipments from Egypt accounted for 2.4% (US$7.9 million) and include mainly peanuts and sesame seeds. The largest increase in 2022 was observed in shipments from the United States and Sudan. The volume of U.S. exports to Tunisia increased by 45.4% (+108.7 thousand tons) in volume terms and by 44.7% (+60.1 million US dollars) in value. Shipments from Sudan increased by 38.9% (+2.4 thousand tons) in volume terms and by 65.9% (+5.6 million US dollars) in value. The decrease in imports from Brazil amounted to 29.2% (-61.7 thousand tons) in volume terms and 12.3% (-14.8 million US dollars) in value.
The most popular type of fish in Tunisia is tuna. The country is one of the largest exporters of live tuna and imports frozen tuna at the same time. In 2022, Tunisia imported 65.0 thousand tons of fish and seafood worth 128.7 million US dollars. The volume of imports of these products increased in comparison with 2022 by 23.4% (+12.3 thousand tons) in volume terms and by 28.5% (+28.6 million US dollars) in value. Imports of fish and seafood increased annually by 10.1% in volume terms and by 8.8% in value.
In the structure of Tunisian fish and seafood imports in 2022, frozen fish accounted for the largest share (69.2% of imports in value terms or 89.1 million US dollars). Live fish was also among the main imported products (18.4% or 23.7 million US dollars). In total, these types of products accounted for 87.6% of imports in value terms. The main type of imported fish is frozen tuna, which accounted for 65.5% of imports in value terms in 2022. Herring, anchovies and shrimps have shares of 5.5%, 3.3% and 2.9%, respectively.
The most significant increase was in imports of frozen fish, purchases of which increased by 28.3% (+12.8 thousand tons) in volume terms and by 37.1% (+24.1 million US dollars) in value.
India took a leading position among the largest fish and seafood exporting countries to Tunisia in 2022, accounting for 23.8% (30.7 million US dollars) of imports in value terms. Frozen tuna formed the basis of the country's exports. Senegal, Italy, France and Morocco are also among the major suppliers. The basis of Senegal's exports is frozen tuna, which accounted for 9.9% (12.8 million US dollars) of imports in value terms in 2022.
Italy provided 9.6% (US$12.3 million) of the supply volume and mainly exports live fish and processed anchovies to Tunisia. France's share was 8.7% (11.3 million US dollars), supplies included frozen tuna and live fish. Morocco supplied frozen herring and mackerel, the country's share was 5.6% (7.2 million US dollars). Mauritius resumed the supply of frozen tuna — the country's share in the import structure amounted to 5.0% (6.4 million US dollars).
The largest increase in 2022 was observed in the supply of frozen tuna from Senegal and frozen herring from Morocco. Senegal's exports increased 5.0 times (+5.8 thousand tons) in volume terms and 5.4 times (+10.5 million US dollars) in value. Morocco increased exports of fish and seafood by 3.2 times (+5.3 thousand tons) in volume terms and 2.5 times (+4.3 million US dollars) in value.
In 2022, Tunisia imported 19.6 thousand tons of milk and dairy products worth 64.0 million US dollars. The volume of imports of this product category increased by 25.7% (+4.0 thousand tons) in volume terms and by 57.9% (+23.5 million US dollars) in value relative to 2021. The volume of imports of dairy products decreased annually by an average of 10.0% in volume terms and grew by 3.0% in value.
In the structure of Tunisian dairy imports in 2022, the largest share was occupied by cheese supplies (29.4% of imports in value terms or 18.8 million US dollars) and milk powder (28.7% or 18.4 million US dollars). The structure of milk powder imports is dominated by skimmed milk powder, which accounted for 63.7% of the volume of supplies of this category of dairy products in value terms. Whey ingredients were also among the main imported products (17.4% or 11.1 million US dollars), ice cream (10.8% or 6.9 million US dollars), as well as butter and other milk fats (8.8% or 5.6 million US dollars). In total, these types of products accounted for 95.0% of imports in value terms.
In comparison with 2021, there was a significant increase in imports of milk powder, ice cream, as well as butter and other fats. The volume of purchases of milk powder increased by 66.0% (+1.9 thousand tons) in volume and 2.1 times (+9.8 million US dollars) in value, ice cream by 75.8% (+912.0 tons) in volume and by 76.7% (+3.0 million US dollars) in value, butter and other dairy fats by 24.2 times (+930.0 tons) in volume terms and by 32.0 times (+5.4 million US dollars) in value. At the same time, the volume of imports of concentrated milk decreased significantly — by 41.3% (-818.0 tons) in volume terms and by 28.0% (-957.0 thousand US dollars) in value.
Among the largest exporting countries of milk and dairy products to Tunisia in 2022, France took the leading position, accounting for 28.9% (18.5 million US dollars) of imports in value terms. The country's exports were based on whey ingredients and milk powder. The second largest supplier of milk to Tunisia was Argentina (14.5% of the value of imports), which in 2022 supplied 1.8 thousand tons of products (mainly cheeses) worth 9.3 million US dollars. The Netherlands exported significant volumes (9.8%) — 1.8 thousand tons worth 6.2 million US dollars (mainly cheeses, milk powder and whey ingredients). In total, the top 10 countries accounted for 84.8% of the value of Tunisian milk and dairy imports.
The largest increase in 2022 was observed in shipments from Argentina and Belgium. Argentina's exports increased 3.2 times (+1.2 thousand tons) in volume terms, and 4.2 times (+7.1 million US dollars) in value. Belgium increased exports of dairy products by 7.2 times (+526.0 tons) in volume terms and 9.2 times (2.2 million US dollars) in value. Iceland has also started supplying cheeses to the Tunisian market.
The export of Tunisian agricultural products in 2022 amounted to 2.2 billion US dollars. In 2018-2022, Tunisia's agricultural exports increased by an average of 1.7% per year.
The main export products of Tunisian agriculture in 2022 were olive oil (36.6% or US$ 802.1 million) and dates (11.2% or US$ 246.1 million) — in total, these goods accounted for 47.9% of Tunisian agricultural exports. In total, the top 10 exported products accounted for 69.9% of Tunisia's agricultural exports in value terms.
In value terms, the volume of exports of olive oil increased most noticeably in 2022 (+34.8% or +207.0 million US dollars) and vegetables cooked or canned without vinegar (+77.3% or +22.3 million US dollars). At the same time, there was a decrease in date exports (-3.9% or -10.1 million US dollars).
The largest importing countries of agricultural products from Tunisia in 2022 were Libya (16.0% of exports in value terms), Spain (15.4%), Italy (15.0%), the USA (7.5%) and France (6.0%). In total, the top 10 importing countries accounted for 73.0% of Tunisia's agricultural exports in 2022.
The largest increase in the volume of purchases of Tunisian agricultural products for the period 2018-2022 was observed in Libya (+60.2% or +131.6 million US dollars), Spain (+26.1% or +69.6 million US dollars) and the United States (+37.3% or +44.9 million US dollars).