Tunisia’s date exports have become a cornerstone in its trade relationship with Indonesia, thriving despite a trade deficit. Tunisian Ambassador to Indonesia, Mohamed Trabelsi, noted that while Tunisia imports goods worth USD 150 million from Indonesia, its exports to the country total around USD 50 million. Key exports include dates, other agricultural products, chemicals, textiles, and small quantities of fertilizers. Dates, in particular, are a standout commodity, with Tunisia being a leading exporter to Indonesia alongside Egypt. According to Indonesia's Central Statistics Agency (BPS), Tunisia was the primary source of Indonesia's date imports, valued at USD 29.66 million from January to February 2024. Egypt, Iran, and Saudi Arabia followed as other main sources. BPS reported that in February 2024, Indonesia imported 11,240 tons of dates, marking a 51.28% increase from the previous month. Tunisia also exports date seeds to markets such as Malaysia, Europe, the United States, and Canada. Ambassador Trabelsi highlighted that Indonesian consumers particularly favor Tunisian dates.
A report from the Indonesian Ministry of Trade in April 2024 indicated that trade between Indonesia and Tunisia has shown positive growth over the past five years. In 2023, total trade reached USD 217.6 million, up 1.09% from the previous year’s USD 215.3 million. However, Indonesia’s exports to Tunisia decreased by 33.7% to USD 112.3 million in 2023 from USD 169.6 million in 2022. Major Indonesian exports to Tunisia include palm oil, copra, motor vehicles, synthetic filament yarn, and leather goods. The Indonesian Ministry of Trade also noted that negotiations for the Indonesia-Tunisia Preferential Trade Agreement (IT-PTA) are nearing completion. Both sides have agreed on most of the main text, including provisions on counter trade and transposition. They have also reached consensus on 27 of 31 articles regarding rules of origin. This agreement aims to bolster bilateral trade through alternative payment mechanisms like counter trade.
