Tunisia's trade deficit widens to record $3.4 billion

TUNIS: Tunisia's trade deficit widened by 20 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2019, to a record 9.8 billion dinars ($3.39 billion), the State Statistics Institute said on Monday.

Imports rose by 14.5 percent to 32.7 billion dinars in January-June, while exports rose by 12.5 percent to 22.9 billion dinars.

The deficit is one of the main problems facing the government as it grapples with an economic crisis.

It has contributed to a slide in Tunisia's foreign currency reserves, which are now enough to pay for only 75 days of imports.

Praised for its successful democratic transition after a 2011 uprising, Tunisia has struggled with tough economic reforms to reduce public spending agreed with its international lenders.