TUNIS, 1st May, 2017 (WAM) -- Tunisia's exports fell by 3.3 percent (constant prices) in the first quarter of 2017 compared to the same period in 2016, against an increase in imports of 5.8 percent, according to the National Institute of Statistics (INS).
On the level of prices, exports increased by 11.1 percent, and imports by 13.7 percent . In current values, exports amounted to 7,532.6 million dinars (MD), up 7.4 percent, while imports reached 11, 411.5 MD, marking a much higher increase of 20.3 percent, said Tunis-Afrique Presse (TAP) quoting the INS.
Excluding energy, prices rose at export by 10.1 percent and imports by 9.7 percent. From January to March 2017, energy prices recorded increases of about 19.6 percent in exports and 52.2 percent in imports.
A sectoral analysis reveals a decline in exports in volume recorded in energy (-52.3 percent ) and mining, phosphates and derivatives (-24.7 percent). Besides, the mechanical and electrical industry posted a growth in volume by 4.4 percent .
As regards imports, the evolution in terms of volume is marked by an increase in the mining, phosphates and derivatives (+ 21.5 percent ), textiles, clothing and leather (+ 5.5 percent), agriculture and agri-food industries (+ 14.8 percent).