The following export product groups represent the highest dollar value in Tunisian global shipments during 2017. Also shown is the percentage share each export category represents in terms of overall exports from Tunisia.

At the more detailed Harmonized Tariff System code level, Tunisia’s most valuable exported product is insulated wire or cable. In second place was men’s and women’s clothing trailed by crude oil, automotive parts or accessories, lower-voltage switches or fuses, olive oil, footwear then mobile phones.

1. Electrical machinery, equipment: US$4 billion (28.4% of total exports)
2. Clothing, accessories (not knit or crochet): $2.2 billion (15.5%)
3. Knit or crochet clothing, accessories: $893.3 million (6.4%)
4. Mineral fuels including oil: $691.8 million (4.9%)
5. Footwear: $608.3 million (4.3%)
6. Machinery including computers: $542.4 million (3.9%)
7. Vehicles: $524.5 million (3.7%)
8. Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $471.2 million (3.4%)
9. Animal/vegetable fats, oils, waxes: $413.3 million (2.9%)
10. Plastics, plastic articles: $382.9 million (2.7%)

By value, Tunisia’s top 10 exports accounted for over three-quarters (76.2%) of the overall value of its global shipments.

Footwear was the fastest-growing among Tunisia’s top 10 export categories, up by 60.9% from 2016 to 2017.

Close behind in second place for improving export sales was the knitted or crocheted clothing and accessories category which rose by 59.5%.

Tunisia-made optical, technical and medical apparatus posted the third-fastest gain in value up by 10.7%.

The leading decliner among the top 10 Tunisian export categories was animal or vegetable fats, oils and waxes which retreated -19.2% year over year.

The following types of Tunisian product shipments represent positive net exports or a trade balance surplus. Investopedia defines net exports as the value of a country’s total exports minus the value of its total imports.

In a nutshell, net exports represent the amount by which foreign spending on a home country’s goods or services exceeds or lags the home country’s spending on foreign goods or services.

1. Clothing, accessories (not knit or crochet): US$2 billion (Up by 56.8% since 2016)
2. Electrical machinery, equipment: $1.3 billion (Up by 30.1%)
3. Knit or crochet clothing, accessories: $776.5 million (Up by 71.1%)
4. Footwear: $458.1 million (Up by 93.3%)
5. Fruits, nuts: $242.5 million (Up by 3.2%)
6. Inorganic chemicals: $230.8 million (Down by -13.1%)
7. Fertilizers: $183.1 million (Down by -32.5%)
8. Animal/vegetable fats, oils, waxes: $150.3 million (Down by -50%)
9. Fish: $127.4 million (Up by 86%)
10. Leather/animal gut articles: $119.4 million (Up by 121.1%)

Tunisia has highly positive net exports in the international apparel trade. In turn, these cashflows indicate Tunisia’s strong competitive advantages under the clothing and accessories product categories whether or not knit or crocheted.

Overall, Tunisia incurred a -$5.2 billion trade deficit for 2017 down by -12.5% from -$5.9 billion during 2016.

Below are exports from Tunisia that result in negative net exports or product trade balance deficits. These negative net exports reveal product categories where foreign spending on home country Tunisia’s goods trail Tunisian importer spending on foreign products.

1. Mineral fuels including oil: -US$2 billion (Up by 47.2% since 2016)
2. Machinery including computers: -$1.2 billion (Down by -15.6%)
3. Vehicles: -$795 million (Down by -28.1%)
4. Plastics, plastic articles: -$748.9 million (Down by -1%)
5. Cereals: -$663.6 million (Down by -18.7%)
6. Iron, steel: -$566.1 million (Up by 29.1%)
7. Pharmaceuticals: -$409.1 million (Down by -0.9%)
8. Cotton: -$398.9 million (Down by -28.7%)
9. Knit or crochet fabric: -$309.4 million (Up by 158.8%)
10. Copper: -$303.3 million (Up by 17.4%)

Tunisia has highly negative net exports and therefore deep international trade deficits under the mineral fuels including oil category particularly refined petroleum oils and petroleum gases.

Tunisian Export Companies

Not one Tunisian corporation ranks among Forbes Global 2000.

Wikipedia lists exports-related companies from Tunisia. Selected examples are shown below:

• Evertek (telecommunications)
• Groupe Mabrouk (food, beverages)
• Industries Mécaniques Maghrébines (automobiles)
• Vermeg (technology & software)
• Wallyscar (car manufacturer)