Garlic market in Tunisia

Earlier Report Observations

The Tunisian garlic market volume showed considerable movement between 2018 and 2023. After two years of stability around 29,000 t, consumption jumped sharply to 39,075 t in 2020. This surge was directly linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted global and local agricultural supply chains, prompting a significant increase in imports to meet demand.

Market volume then contracted for three consecutive years, falling to 30,833 t by 2023. This decline was primarily driven by rising prices for key agricultural inputs like seeds and fertilizers, a trend exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, which elevated overall food costs and reduced consumer purchasing power. Although the state introduced support measures for local producers and enhanced electronic monitoring of cold storage to regulate supply, these actions could not reverse the downward pressure on total market size.

Broader regulatory developments, including the liberalization of foreign exchange rules and successive finance laws offering incentives for new businesses, created a shifting economic backdrop. However, these structural factors played a secondary role compared to the immediate impacts of the pandemic and sustained price inflation on the garlic market's overall volume.

Production garlic in Tunisia

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of garlic, 2017-2020

World map of production of garlic, 2017-2020

Tunisia's garlic production remained stable in 2020, with 24 406 tonnes harvested. This figure showed no significant change compared to 2019, when production reached its lowest point at 24 303 tonnes. The largest decline occurred in 2018, when production fell by 0.6%.

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

Exports garlic from Tunisia

Exports in kind, t

Tunisia's garlic exports declined for the third consecutive year in 2020, dropping to just 5 tonnes. This represents an 82.5% decrease compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports fell by 86.4%, which translates to an annualized decline rate of 48.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Tunisia in kind, 2017-2020, t

Between 2017 and 2020, Tunisia's garlic exports in volume terms were highly concentrated, with Libya and France together accounting for 92.9% of total shipments. Other trading partners represented only a small residual share.

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

In 2020, Tunisia's garlic export value reached 12 thousand US dollars, marking a sharp 60.7% year-over-year decline. The maximum value was recorded in 2019 at 30 thousand US dollars, which represented a 19.1% increase that year. From 2017 to 2020, export values decreased by 58.8%, equivalent to an annualized decline rate of 25.6%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Libya, France, and Canada were the main markets for Tunisia's garlic exports in value terms. Libya accounted for 56.4% of export value, France for 17.8%, and Canada for 14.3%. Together, these three countries represented 88.4% of total export flows.

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

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

Imports garlic to Tunisia

Imports in kind, t

Tunisia's garlic imports showed noticeable fluctuations between 2017 and 2020. The minimum volume was recorded in 2018 at 5 072 tonnes, which represented a 58.2% decline that year. Imports then surged to 14 673 tonnes in 2020, marking a 178.2% increase compared to 2019 and reaching the period's maximum. Overall, there was a 2.9-fold variation between the lowest and highest import volumes during this timeframe.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Tunisia in kind, 2017-2020, t

Between 2017 and 2020, China dominated Tunisia's garlic imports in volume terms, accounting for 84.2% of total flows. Other trading partners held relatively minor shares during this period.

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

Tunisia's garlic import values showed an unstable trend from 2017 to 2020. The minimum value was recorded in 2018 at 4 106 thousand US dollars, representing a 29.8% decline that year. Values then climbed to 13 575 thousand US dollars in 2020, marking a 190.5% increase compared to 2019 and reaching the period's maximum. Overall, there was a 3.3-fold shift between the lowest and highest import values during this timeframe.

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

From 2017 to 2020, China concentrated most of Tunisia's garlic imports in value terms, taking 83.7% of total flows. The remaining imports were distributed among a fragmented group of other markets.

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

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