Dried apricots market in Tunisia

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2020, the Tunisian dried apricot market saw a gradual expansion, with volume rising from 1,086 t to 1,177 t. Production in 2018 faced significant cost pressures due to water stress, higher fuel prices, and difficulties in hiring skilled labor, which kept output nearly flat. The subsequent rise in market volume by 2020 occurred without specific reported catalysts, though production increased to 1,120 t.

The market contracted between 2021 and 2022, falling from 1,112 t to 985 t. This decline was driven in part by severe challenges for farmers in the Kairouan region in 2021, including rising input costs, climate damage from hail and strong winds, and a lack of processing units, which reduced apricot availability. Efforts in 2022 to boost exports through professional coordination and participation in the Tripoli International Fair, alongside investments by Brousse & Fils to meet European dried fruit standards, provided a foundation for market activity but did not reverse the overall volume drop that year.

A recovery took place in 2023, with market volume reaching 1,129 t and production rebounding to 1,072 t. This upturn was supported by the growing availability of dried apricots through online sales platforms and supermarkets, which improved distribution. Concurrently, rising demand for bitter apricot kernels indicated product diversification within the sector. Early 2024 saw a decrease in apricot prices and quantities at the Bir El Kassaa wholesale market, signaling potential pressure on local supply.

Production dried apricots in Tunisia

In kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Tunisia ranked 12th globally in dried apricot production.

Top producers of dried apricots, 2017-2020

World map of production of dried apricots, 2017-2020

Tunisia's dried apricot production increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the country produced 1,120 tonnes of dried apricots, marking a 7.4% rise from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, production grew by 33.8%, which translates to an average annual increase of 10.2%.

Annual dynamics of production in Tunisia in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports dried apricots from Tunisia

Exports in kind, kg

Tunisia's dried apricot exports declined for the third year in a row. In 2020, exports totaled just 5 kilograms, a sharp drop of 97.4% compared to the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, exports fell by 99.6%, averaging an annual decrease of 84.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Tunisia in kind, 2017-2020, kg

Between 2017 and 2020, France was the primary destination for Tunisia's dried apricot exports in volume terms, accounting for 76.4% of total shipments. Other markets played a much smaller role.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Tunisia in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, $ US

Tunisia's dried apricot export values decreased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports amounted to 44 US dollars, a decline of 90.2% from 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, export values dropped by 99.3%, with an average annual fall of 80.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Tunisia in value, 2017-2020, $ US

From 2017 to 2020, France dominated Tunisia's dried apricot exports in value terms, representing 74.8% of total flows. The remainder was spread across several smaller markets.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Tunisia in value, 2017-2020

Imports dried apricots to Tunisia

Imports in kind, kg

The data shows irregular fluctuations, pointing to a volatile market. Imports reached their lowest point in 2018 at 44,207 kilograms and peaked in 2019 at 81,851 kilograms, resulting in a 1.9-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Tunisia imported 56,320 kilograms of dried apricots, a significant drop of 31.2% from the previous year. The largest increase occurred in 2019, with a rise of 85.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Tunisia in kind, 2017-2020, kg

Between 2017 and 2020, Turkey overwhelmingly dominated Tunisia's dried apricot imports in volume terms, holding a 98.7% share of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Tunisia in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, $ US

The market displayed an unstable trend during this period. Import values varied 2.8 times, from a low of 2017 to a high of 2019. In 2020, Tunisia imported 72,520 US dollars worth of dried apricots, a notable reduction of 10.7% from 2019. The maximum value was recorded in 2019 at 81,201 US dollars, with the largest increase that year at 81.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Tunisia in value, 2017-2020, $ US

From 2017 to 2020, Turkey nearly completely shaped the geographical structure of Tunisia's dried apricot imports in value terms, accounting for 96.5% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Tunisia in value, 2017-2020