Fibreboard market in Tunisia

Earlier Report Observations

The fibreboard market in Tunisia stood at 148.3 million m³ in 2018 before contracting to 132.5 million m³ in 2019. It recovered to 139.0 million m³ in 2020, a year marked by the global COVID-19 pandemic which disrupted supply chains worldwide. The market then expanded sharply to 154.0 million m³ in 2021, driven primarily by Tunisie Telecom's large-scale rollout of fiber optic networks under the Tunisia Numérique strategy, which stimulated construction and renovation activity requiring building materials like MDF.

Growth continued at a slower pace to 157.2 million m³ in 2022, supported by a positive global trend for MDF fueled by rapid residential construction. However, the market fell markedly to 111.7 million m³ in 2023 as persistent increases in the prices of construction materials, including wood and panels, raised costs and dampened consumption volume.

In 2024, import volumes—a key component of supply—declined to 78.1 million m³. During this period, Tunisie Telecom continued its nationwide fiber optic deployment and prepared for 5G launch, while the government expressed increased need for international submarine fiber optic cables, supporting long-term infrastructure demand.

Production fibreboard in Tunisia

In kind, 2017-2020, m³

Top producers of fibreboard, 2017-2020

World map of production of fibreboard, 2017-2020

In 2020, Tunisia produced 75,000 m³ of fibreboard, showing negligible variation compared to 2019. The largest decline and increase both occurred in 2018, each at 0.0%.

Annual dynamics of production in Tunisia in kind, 2017-2020, m³

In value, 2017-2020, $ US

Tunisia's fibreboard production increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, output was valued at 56,645 US dollars, reflecting a moderate gain of 3.3% from the prior year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production rose by 6.1%, with a compound annual growth rate of 2.0%. The minimum value was recorded in 2018 at 49,378 US dollars, which also saw the largest decline of 7.5%. The largest increase occurred in 2019 at 11.0%.

Annual dynamics of production in Tunisia in value, 2017-2020, $ US

Exports fibreboard from Tunisia

Exports in kind, M m³

Fibreboard exports from Tunisia declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, exports totalled 3.2 million m³, showing an abrupt decline of 29.8% compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports decreased by 22%, with a compound annual growth rate of -7.9%. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 5.6 million m³, which also saw the largest increase of 35.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Tunisia in kind, 2017-2020, M m³

From 2017 to 2020, Tunisia's fibreboard exports in kind were highly concentrated, with Algeria accounting for 96.6% of total flows.

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, K $ US

Fibreboard volumes leaving Tunisia declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, exports amounted to 2,450 thousand US dollars, which is 27.4% lower than the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports decreased by 17.2%, with a compound annual growth rate of -6.1%. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 3,697 thousand US dollars, which also saw the largest increase of 24.9%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Tunisia's fibreboard exports were supplied almost exclusively to Algeria, which absorbed 95.8% of total exports in value terms.

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

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

Imports fibreboard to Tunisia

Imports in kind, M m³

After a two-year decline, fibreboard imports into Tunisia increased. In 2020, imports reached 142.2 million m³, constituting a modest rise of 3.8% versus the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 14.6%, equating to an annualized rate of -5.1%. The minimum value was recorded in 2019 at 137.0 million m³, which also saw the largest decline of 10.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Tunisia in kind, 2017-2020, M m³

From 2017 to 2020, Turkey, Italy, and Spain were the principal suppliers of fibreboard to Tunisia, accounting for 52.0%, 21.0%, and 14.3% of imports in kind, respectively. Together, they represented 87.3% of total imports in kind.

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, K $ US

After a two-year decline, Tunisia's fibreboard imports increased. In 2020, Tunisia imported 52,004 thousand US dollars of fibreboard, up by 4.7% compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 18.4%, equating to an annualized rate of -6.6%. The minimum value was recorded in 2019 at 49,648 thousand US dollars, which also saw the largest decline of 19.2%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, three principal markets—Turkey, Italy, and Spain—together accounted for 87.1% of total imports in value terms of fibreboard to Tunisia.

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

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