An analysis carried out by Jean-François Limantour, President of Evalliance of the evolution of European textile and clothing imports during the first nine months of 2023 shows that only Tunisia among the top 10 exporters achieved an increase in its exports towards ‘European Union.
Ranked 10th supplier to the European Union in textiles and clothing, Tunisia increased its exports by 7.1% compared to the first ten months of 2022 and by 20.3% compared to the same period of 2019.
Jean-François Limantour’s analysis also shows that all the main suppliers; with the exception of Tunisia, recorded significant declines in their exports to the EU.
“This performance is not the result of chance but the result of positioning in the high/mid-range, the only niche in which European consumers continue to buy clothing with a certain vigor. Tunisia has competitive factor costs but above all benefits from a relevant policy led in the early 2000s by three remarkable ministers, those of industry, trade, and international cooperation. It was in fact at this time that a very strong impetus was given to the Euro-Tunisian partnership, favoring FDI and the industrial establishment in Tunisia of subsidiaries of major European brands, particularly French and Italian,” underlines the President of Evalliance.
Compared to the achievements of the first ten months of 2022, Tunisian exports of textiles, clothing, and leather recorded; according to the INS, an increase of 9.1%. As a reminder, Tunisian textile and clothing exports represent 19% of total Tunisian exports. France and Italy are Tunisia’s two main clients in the European area.
