Tunis: The monthly trade deficit widened by 12% in May 2024 compared with the previous month, to TND 1,442.1 million, compared with TND 1,268 million in April, according to the National Institute of Statistics (INS). The export-import cover ratio fell by 2.3 points compared with April 2024, to stand at 78.6%. In May, trade was marked by a 1.3% fall in exports, and a 1.5% rise in imports compared with the previous month. Excluding energy products, exports were almost stagnant (0.1%), while imports were up by 6%. //Exports in the agriculture and agri-food sector down 10.9%// The decline in exports is explained by falls in certain sectors, notably agriculture and agri-food, which were down by 10.9%. The energy and lubricants sector also suffered a decrease, down 26.1%. The mechanical and electrical engineering industry saw a slight fall of 1.5%. Other sectors, on the other hand, recorded increases. Exports of textiles, clothing and leather grew by 13.9%, with a notable rise of 15.7% for textiles and clot hing and 6.7% for leather and footwear. In addition, the mining, phosphates and derivatives sector posted substantial growth of 18.3%. Exports of miscellaneous manufacturing industries were nearly stagnant at 0.4%. Exports to the European Union increased by 6.1%, with a sharp rise of 28.3% to Germany. Exports to Spain were up by 7.9%, Italy by 1.7% and France by 1.3%. Likewise, exports to the Maghreb Union countries picked up, with an increase of 27.2%, despite the 29.7% drop recorded with Egypt. On the other hand, exports to the United States fell by 22.5%, the United Kingdom by 14% and Russia by 20.4%. //Imports of raw materials and semi-finished products up by 14.6%// Growth in imports was driven mainly by a 14.6% rise in imports of raw materials and semi-finished products. Furthermore, after two months of decline, food imports rebounded by 20%. Conversely, purchases of capital goods remained fairly stable, with a slight rise of 0.6%. Imports of energy products continued to fall for the second cons ecutive month in a row, down by 15.4%. Consumer goods also fell by 5.4%. Imports from the European Union were almost flat. However, imports showed major increases from Italy (+39.1%) and Spain (+33.7%). Conversely, imports from Germany were down by 3.9%, Malta by 49.5% and the Netherlands by 18.9%. Imports from the Maghreb region rose by 9.3%, with 35.3% increase from Egypt. Meanwhile, imports from Russia fell by 35.6%, China by 2.6%, the UK by 6.6%, and Turkey by 9.3%. Imports from Switzerland, however, rose by 113.1%, and from the United States by 36.1%. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse