Improving Agricultural Market Performance:
Creation and Development of Market Institutions
101
However, 2015 marked a transition as Tunisia’s agricultural trade recorded a surplus.169 This
is partly driven by the high export of tree crops such as olive oil (US$983 million), dates
(US$231 million), and citrus (US$12 million), while the export of the aquaculture sector
products added another US$131 million. Wheat, corn, vegetable oils, sugar, and barely featured
among the main imported commodities. Tunisia’s irregular agricultural yield can be traced
back to unpredictable weather conditions affecting rain-fed crops.170
Irrigated crops grown in Tunisia mostly concern horticulture, which, together with cereals and
livestock (chicken, sheep, and cattle meet171), often need to be complemented with imported
products to meet domestic demand. In fact, a trade deficit of US$813 million was recorded for
cereals over 2014, followed by a trade deficit of US$41 and US$7 million for meat and dairy
products, respectively.172 In addition to cereals, livestock, and horticulture, arboriculture or
tree crops (e.g. olives, citrus, and dates) are cultivated in Tunisia, mainly for export
purposes.173 This is confirmed by the trade surplus of nearly US$300 million174 recorded for
fruits and vegetables (mainly tomatoes and potatoes175).
The demand for organic tree crops is growing and reflected by the recognition of both the EU
and the US, as the former provides organic certification for Tunisian-grown olives and dates,
while the latter approves the sale of Tunisian “organic” products to the US market. 176 Tunisia is
the 8th certified exporter of organic products to the EU.177 In fact, about 75% of Tunisia’s
organic production concerns olives, followed by dates, jojoba, almonds, honey, aromatic plants,
and, more recently, livestock husbandry.178 Tunisia is the second certified African exporter of
organic products (after Uganda) with 60 organic products and 80% of its organic production
being exported.179 Indeed, Tunisia features among the highest ranks as global exporter of
organic olive oil and exporter of dates (in terms of value).
169 Export.gov (2016), Tunisia - Agriculture, available a Accessed
May 2017].
170 African Development Bank (2012), Economic Brief - Distortions to Agricultural Policy Incentives in Tunisia: A Preliminary
Analysis, pp. 5-11, Tunis: African Development Bank.
171 International Trade Centre (2017), Country Profile Tunisia, available a
Accessed May 2017].
172 FAO (2015), FAOSTAT Tunisia, available a Accessed May
2017].
173 Export.gov (2016), Tunisia - Agriculture, available a Accessed
May 2017].
174 FAO (2015), FAOSTAT Tunisia, available a Accessed May
2017].
175 International Trade Centre (2017), Country Profile Tunisia, available a
Accessed May 2017].
176 Export.gov (2016), Tunisia - Agriculture, available a Accessed
May 2017].
177 Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (2015), Agrifood Industry in Tunisia, pp. 1-5, Tunis: Foreign Investment Promotion
Agency.
178 International Trade Centre (2017), Country Profile Tunisia, available a
Accessed May 2017].
179 Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (2015), Agrifood Industry in Tunisia, pp. 1-5, Tunis: Foreign Investment Promotion
Agency.