The trade balance of the textile/clothing sector edged up 16.2 points in the first eight months of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022 from 116.6% to 132.8%, according to a newsletter published Thursday by the Technical Textile Centre (French: CETTEX).
Textile and clothing exports rose 10% to TND 6,466.19 million or pound 1939.45 million (+7.76%). In volume, this sector's exports fell 4.54% to 109760.44 tonnes.
Likewise, textile/clothing imports dropped 3.45% to TND 4868.66 million. In euro, these imports fell 5.41% to pound 1460.20 million.
Exports of the clothing sector grew 11.54% to TND 5504.12 million.
The same goes for textile as exports edged up 1.95% in value (TND) while the volume slumped 6.41%.
Fabric and coating and carpet groups posted respective drops of 25.04% and 77.16% in value (TND).
In value, textile exports to France dropped 0.77% but rose to Italy (+12.38%) and Slovakia (+175.22%).
Textile/clothing imports under the suspensive regime fell by 25.54% in Tunisian Dinar and 50.72% in volume.
Imports from leading supplier Italy also showed a downward trend (-5.40% in TND). China, the second largest supplier posted a 69.28% rise in TND.
Likewise, imports of thread fell 12.81% in TND. Sales from Italy, the leading supplier, grew 7.77% in value (TND) against a 15.13% drop in volume.
Turkey, Tunisia's second supplier, saw its exports fall 33.79% in value.
Data - based on the analysis of textile/clothing imports for the local market outside the suspensive regime - show a 37.32% drop in fibre imports.
Turkey regained its position of leading supplier with a significant rise of 292% in value and 230% in volume. Bangladesh, the second largest supplier, posted a 71.6% drop in value.
Imports of clothing edged down 14.56% in value (TND). Nearly 26% of these imports came from Turkey. Imports of thread and fabric shrank 6.46% and 10.37%, respectively, in value (TND) during the first 8 months of 2023.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse