(TAP)-Tunisia's trade balance deficit stood at 3,505.7 MD during the first quarter (Q1) of 2020, against 3,973.2 MD during Q1 of 2019, which allowed the coverage rate to gain 0.1 point, according to data published on Saturday by the National Institute of Statistics (INS).

The deficit is particularly recorded with China (-1,299.9 MD), Turkey (-595.2 MD), Algeria (-556.1 MD), Italy (-393.5 MD) and Russia (-3,18.7 MD).

The trade balance recorded a surplus with other countries, mainly with France (842.5 MD), Germany (286.1 MD), Libya (285 MD) and Morocco (135.2 MD).

The results show that the deficit of the trade balance excluding energy dropped to 1,748 MD and that the energy balance deficit stood at 1,757.7 MD (50.1% of the total deficit) against 1,411.5 MD during the same period in 2019.

///The coverage rate gains 0.1 point///

The coverage rate, which increased by 0.1 points compared to the same period in 2019, stood at 75%, compared to 74.9% during the same period in 2019.

During the Q1 of 2020, foreign trade shows a decrease in exports by 11.2%, against an increase of 16.3% during the same period in 2019, reaching 10,514.9 MD against 11,846.4 MD during the same period of 2019.

In the same way, imports posted a drop of 11.4% against a 14.4% rise during the first quarter of 2019. In value, imports reached 14,020.6 MD against 15,819.6 MD during the same period of 2019.

The decline of exports (-11.2%) and imports (-11.4%) is behind the reduction of the trade deficit, according to the same source.

The decrease in exports during the Q1 of 2020 involves several sectors, notably the sectors of energy (-22.6%), textiles, clothing and leather (-18.7%), mechanical and electrical industries (-11.4) and mining, phosphates and derivatives (-7.9%).

On the other hand, the agriculture and food-processing industries sector recorded a +9.9% rise, following the increase in olive oil sales (631.9 MD against 444.7 MD).

/// Imports dropped by 11.4% ///

The 11.4% fall in imports is due, in particular, to the decrease recorded in imports of capital goods by -19.8%, raw materials and semi-finished products by -13% and consumer goods by -10.9%.

However, imports of the energy sector grew by 8.1%, under the effect of the rise in purchases of refined products (362.5 MD).

Tunisian exports to the European Union (71.9% of total exports) were down by 13.9%.

This is explained, on the one hand, by the fall of Tunisa's exports to some European partners, such as France by 26.9% and Germany by 16.7% and, on the other hand, by the increase of sales to other countries in particular, with Spain by 41.5% and Belgium by 12.3%.

Exports to Arab countries fell, notably by 34.6% with Egypt , Libya by 9.4%, Morocco by 8.6% and Algeria by 0.8%.

As for imports, trade in goods with the European Union (50.4% of total imports) posted a 15.4% drop to reach 7,062 MD. They dropped by 20.4% with France and by 21.7% with Italy.

The distribution of trade by regime shows that exports under the offshore regime recorded a 14.5% drop against +18.2% during the Q1 of 2019.

Imports recorded, under this regime, a decline of 11.8% against +12.1% during the same period in 2019.

Under the general regime, exports dropped by 2.4% against +11.7% during the same period in 2019. Imports also decreased by 9.9% against +15.6% during the same period in 2019.

/// Exports dropped by 29.5% in March 2020 ///

The results of Tunisia's foreign trade at current prices during March 2020, show a 29.5% drop in exports compared to the same month last year (+1.2% in February).

They reached 2,908.2 MD against 4,127 MD in March 2019. This decrease affected the majority of sectors, namely the exports of textile, clothing and leather products by 45.2%, mechanical and electrical industries by 32.2%, mines, phosphates and derivatives by 21.6% and the energy sector by 6.7%.

It appears from the breakdown of exports by country for March 2020 that there was a noticeable drop in sales to the main European partners, in particular France (-44%), Germany (-38%) and Italy (-34%).

The same evolution is observed towards some Arab countries such as Libya (-47%) and Algeria (-22%). In March 2020, imports fell by 27.4% compared to March 2019.

Imports recorded a decrease of 27.4% compared to the same month of 2019 (+10.5% in February).

In value they reached 4,094.8 MD against 5,637.9 MD in March 2019. This drop is particularly due to the decrease in imports of mining and phosphate products by 46.9%, capital goods by 35.7%, raw materials and semi-finished products by 25.6%, consumer goods by 24.4% and energy by 11.7%.

The geographical distribution shows a decline in the country's purchases from its main European partners, such as France (-34%), Germany (-19%) and Italy (-33%), as well as some Arab countries such as Libya (-9%) and Algeria (-18%).