Exports as well as imports of Tunisia's textile and apparel sector have grown during the first nine months of the current year.
While exports increased at a year-on-year rate of 8.3 percent to 3,996 million Tunisian dinars (MTD) during January-September 2011, imports were worth 2,784.5 MTD during the same period, showing a growth rate of 9.3 percent year-on-year, as per the data from the Technical Textile Centre (CETTEX).
Out of the exports valued at 3,996 MTD, textile exports were worth 3,483 MTD, up 8.7 percent year-on-year, and apparel exports accounted for the remaining 513 MTD, up 8.1 percent year-on-year.
These exports were mainly to the European countries of France, Germany, Italy and Belgium. Exports to these countries increased at the rate of 5.5, 24.5, 4.7 and 7.6 percent, respectively.
Among Tunisian textile imports, the largest growth in import rate of 21.8 percent year-on-year was observed in thread, followed by 14.66 percent in fabrics, excluding denim, and 13.99 percent in fabrics for technical use.
The countries from which Tunisia mainly imported its textile items were Germany (+16.1%), Italy (+3.4%), China (+20.2%), Turkey (+37.6%) and France (-0.3%).