Anchor sector
Automotive components
Wiring harnesses, connectors and mechanical parts supplied to European OEMs from over 250 dedicated plants.
Country Profile — Arab-America International Expo 2027
Profile content in preparationRepublic of Tunisia
Engineering talent on the Mediterranean.
A compact, export-oriented economy with one of the highest engineering-graduate rates in Africa, supplying automotive components, electronics and olive oil to global markets.
Country at a glance
- GDP
- ≈ $52 billion (nominal)
- Population
- ≈ 12.3 million
- Currency
- Tunisian Dinar (TND)
- Capital
- Tunis
- Economic growth
- ≈ 1.4% real GDP growth
Statistics year: 2024 (latest full-year data)
Overview
A small country with an outsized manufacturing footprint
Tunisia built its economy on offshore manufacturing for Europe: wiring harnesses, connectors, electronic assemblies, medical devices and aeronautical components produced under a dedicated offshore regime.
It graduates tens of thousands of engineers and technicians each year, making engineering services and IT offshoring one of its fastest-growing exports.
Tunisia is also one of the world's largest olive oil producers, and increasingly exports bottled, branded and organic oil rather than bulk product.
- Capital
- Tunis
- Population
- ≈ 12.3 million (2024)
- Language
- Arabic; French widely used in business
- Currency
- Tunisian Dinar (TND)
- Engineering graduates
- Tens of thousands per year
- Trade framework
- EU Association Agreement, AfCFTA, GAFTA
- Main ports
- Radès, Sfax, Bizerte
- Time zone
- GMT +1
Economy
Export manufacturing, agriculture and services
Around 3,000 offshore companies manufacture in Tunisia for export, alongside a large agricultural sector and a recovering tourism industry.
$0B
GDP (nominal, 2024)
Compact, export-driven economy
0+
Offshore export companies
Manufacturing almost entirely for export
0
Olive oil output rank
Among the world's largest producers
0M+
Tourist arrivals
Recovered to record levels
Electrical & wiring componentsLargest manufactured export
Textiles & apparelFast-turnaround European supply
Olive oil & agri-foodGlobal top-tier producer
Mechanical & automotive partsTier-two supply for Europe
AeronauticsGrowing component cluster
IT & engineering servicesOffshoring for Europe and North America
TourismCoastal, Saharan and cultural
Priority sectors
Where Tunisian partners add value
Sectors where Tunisian manufacturers and service firms compete on quality, cost and proximity.
High value
Electronics & medical devices
Precision assembly, PCB manufacturing and certified medical-device production for regulated markets.
Export
Olive oil & agri-food
Extra-virgin, organic and branded olive oil, dates, harissa and seafood with premium export channels.
Talent
IT & engineering offshoring
Software development, CAD engineering and multilingual services at a fraction of European rates.
Manufacturing
Textiles & technical fabrics
Apparel plus workwear, medical textiles and technical fabrics for European buyers.
Emerging
Renewable energy
Solar and wind tenders under a national plan to raise renewables to 35% of electricity by 2030.
National development
Raising value added and energy independence
Tunisia's economic agenda focuses on moving up the manufacturing value chain, expanding renewables and growing digital services exports.
- 1972
Offshore regime created
A dedicated legal framework for export-only manufacturing attracts European industry.
- 1995
EU Association Agreement
Tariff-free industrial trade with the European Union.
- 2022
Solar tenders scale up
Large utility-scale solar concessions awarded to international developers.
- 2030
Renewables target
35% of electricity generation from renewable sources.
Major development projects
Projects and programmes to watch
Infrastructure and energy programmes with international participation.
ELMED interconnector
A high-voltage subsea power link between Tunisia and Italy enabling renewable electricity exports to Europe.
Utility-scale solar programme
Multi-hundred-megawatt solar concessions across the centre and south of the country.
Port of Radès upgrade
Container-handling modernisation at the country's principal commercial port.
Tunis–Sfax expressway & rail
Corridor upgrades linking the capital to the industrial south.
US – Tunisia trade
A niche but consistent American trade relationship
The United States supplies Tunisia with grain, aircraft and machinery, while Tunisian olive oil and dates have become established categories in US retail.
Top exports to the world
Electrical machinery & wiring
Apparel & textiles
Olive oil & agri-food
Mechanical components
Phosphates & chemicals
Top imports
Refined fuels & energy
Cereals & food commodities
Machinery & equipment
Vehicles & parts
Leading products to the United States
- Extra-virgin and organic olive oil
- Dates
- Apparel and textiles
- Electrical components
- Harissa and specialty foods
Leading products from the United States
- Soybeans and cereals
- Aircraft and parts
- Machinery
- Medical equipment
- Chemicals
- One of the largest suppliers of organic olive oil to the United States
- European-standard manufacturing quality at lower cost than EU locations
- A francophone and anglophone engineering workforce for offshored technical work
Bilateral goods trade — 2024
Trade with the United States
Verified full-year bilateral merchandise trade between Tunisia and the United States, reported from Tunisia's perspective.
Total U.S. goods trade
$1.6B
2024
Exports to the United States
$1.1B
2024
Imports from the United States
$500.0M
2024
Trade balance
$600.0M
Surplus for Tunisia
2024
Exports vs. imports — 2024
Tunisia exports to the United States$1.1B
Tunisia imports from the United States$500.0M
Exports to the US Imports from the US
Tunisia holds a goods surplus with the United States, powered by olive oil, electrical components and apparel exports, while American sales are concentrated in grains, oilseeds and machinery.
Scope of these figures
These figures represent merchandise trade only and do not include services.
Data source
- U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Division — country trade data (full year 2024)
- Office of the United States Trade Representative — country trade fact sheets
Statistical year: 2024
Leading exports to the United States
- Olive oil and agri-food products
- Electrical wiring and components
- Apparel and textiles
- Mechanical and aerospace parts
- Dates and processed foods
Leading imports from the United States
- Cereals, especially wheat and corn
- Soybeans
- Machinery
- Aircraft parts
- Electrical equipment
Culture & tourism
Carthage, the Sahara and the Mediterranean
Roman antiquity, desert landscapes and 1,300 km of Mediterranean coastline.
Tunis
Carthage & Sidi Bou Said
Phoenician and Roman ruins beside a blue-and-white clifftop village.
Mahdia
El Jem
One of the largest and best-preserved Roman amphitheatres in the world.
Southern coast
Djerba
An island of beaches, synagogues and traditional craft villages.
Southwest
Tozeur & the Sahara
Palm oases, salt flats and desert film locations.
Central Tunisia
Kairouan
One of Islam's most historically significant cities.
Why invest
Why American companies work with Tunisia
European-grade manufacturing and engineering, one hour from Rome by air.
01
Offshore regime
Export-only companies benefit from tax advantages, duty-free inputs and simplified customs.
02
Engineering density
One of the highest per-capita rates of engineering graduates in Africa.
03
Cost structure
Manufacturing and technical labour costs well below European and Turkish alternatives.
04
Certified quality
Aerospace, automotive and medical-device plants operating to international certification standards.
At the Expo
Tunisia at AAIX 2027
The Tunisia pavilion introduces American buyers to certified manufacturers and premium food producers.
- Olive oil and specialty food tastings for US retail buyers
- Automotive, electronics and medical-device supplier meetings
- IT and engineering offshoring introductions
- Offshore regime and investment incentive briefings
World heritage
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Tunisia
Sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, a core part of the country's cultural and tourism offer.
Archaeological Site of Carthage
The Phoenician and Roman capital on the Gulf of Tunis.
Amphitheatre of El Jem
A 3rd-century Roman amphitheatre seating an estimated 35,000.
Medina of Tunis
A 700-building historic core of mosques, palaces and souks.
Kairouan
The first Arab-Muslim city in North Africa, with the Great Mosque of Uqba.
Dougga / Thugga
The best-preserved Roman small town in North Africa.
Medina of Sousse
A well-preserved example of early Islamic coastal town planning.
Business opportunities
Opportunities for Arab and American companies
How companies from different markets can engage with Tunisia through the Expo.
For American companies
Source certified components and organic olive oil, or place engineering and software work with Tunisian teams.
For Arab companies
Use Tunisia as a manufacturing platform with tariff-free access to the European Union.
For international investors
Renewable energy concessions, the ELMED interconnector and port modernisation offer structured entry points.
Represent Tunisia at Arab-America International Expo 2027
Present your country's economy, industries, products, investment opportunities, tourism destinations and culture to the American and North American markets.
Reserve space in the Tunisian pavilion, or register as an American buyer to source components, services and premium food products.
Sources & data
- Institut National de la Statistique (Tunisia)
- Central Bank of Tunisia
- FIPA — Foreign Investment Promotion Agency
- International Olive Council
- World Bank World Development Indicators
- IMF World Economic Outlook
- U.S. Census Bureau / USTR trade statistics
- UN Comtrade
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Last updated: August 2026