Tunisia’s textile industry continues to perform strongly, consolidating its place as a leading supplier to the European Union despite global market pressures and rising competition.
According to recent official data, Tunisia now ranks 10th worldwide among clothing suppliers to the EU, ahead of countries such as the United Kingdom, Sri Lanka, and Egypt. Export values have steadily increased, rising from €1.966 billion in 2019 to €2.280 billion in 2022 and €2.358 billion in 2023, even as EU textile imports fell by over 16%.
Rising Exports in 2025
Minister of Economy and Planning Samir Abdelhafidh announced that during the first five months of 2025, Tunisian textile exports grew by 2.61% compared to the same period in 2024, reaching 3,942 million dinars (€1.178 billion). Projections suggest that by year-end, total textile exports will amount to 9,365 million dinars, reflecting a growth rate of around 2%.
Challenges Ahead
Despite positive performance, the sector faces considerable challenges:
- Intensifying competition from global producers
- Rising maritime freight and logistics costs
- Declining purchasing power among European consumers
- New EU carbon emission taxes and sustainability regulations
- Higher costs of energy, water, and raw materials
Minister Abdelhafidh emphasized the urgency of accelerating reforms to align with global market requirements, promoting investment and innovation, and adopting modern, clean, and smart textile technologies.
International Cooperation & Support
Tunisia’s textile sector is also benefiting from several international support programs:
- The GTEX-MENATEX program (2024–2027), funded by Tunisia-Swiss and Tunisia-Swedish cooperation, with $2 million allocated to 33 textile and clothing companies.
- The Import Promotion Project (CBI) under Tunisian-Dutch cooperation, providing €1.8 million in funding between 2023–2026 for 18 companies and support structures.
- Total external funding currently allocated to the sector amounts to 12.5 million dinars in grants.
A Pillar of the Tunisian Economy
As Tunisia’s second-largest exporting sector, textiles employ nearly 160,000 workers across 1,600 companies, 85% of which are fully export-oriented. Annual export volume is estimated at 10 billion dinars, underscoring the sector’s central role in Tunisia’s economy.
