Its strong points:
Enjoying a rich tradition and a more than thirty years old international experience, the leather sector in Tunisia has been able to create a strong image and to position itself favourably on the international scene. Thanks to its flexibility, reactivity, punctuality and social and environmental standards respect, the leather sector in Tunisia has been providing global solutions and paving the way to a new cooperation with partners countries, which will bring benefits to each and every one.
Strong points known and appreciated:
In addition to a legal environment favourable to enterprises creation and development, you will find many other positive sides for doing business in Tunisia: professionalism, reactivity, flexibility, swiftness and high quality services.
Flexible and differentiated offer:
The dynamism experienced by the leather sector in Tunisia is generating several opportunities in manufacturing as well as in services and is giving Tunisia a comparative advantage with regard to small series, actualisation, reactivity, sustained flows and just-in-time delivery.
Exports:
Tunisia has become over the years one of the main suppliers of leather goods and shoes to the euro-mediterranean region:
- The second supplier to south-mediterranean countries after Turkey.
- The fifth exporter after China, Vietnam, Turkey and Indonesia.
- The fifth supplier to Europe.
Exports have more than tripled during the last 10 years, from 197 millions tunisian dinars in 1994 to 697 millions tunisian dinars in 2006, with an average annual growth rate of 28 %. Shoes and uppers branch accounted for 85 % of exports whereas leather goods and clothing branch accounted for 11 %.
Breakdown of leather and shoes exports by branches
in MTD (1997-2006)
|
|
1997
|
1998
|
1999
|
2000
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
2004
|
2005
|
2006
|
|
Tannery
|
8
|
19
|
18
|
45
|
46
|
35
|
25
|
20
|
20
|
16
|
|
Shoes
|
126
|
154
|
153
|
185
|
254
|
268
|
312
|
329
|
384
|
409
|
|
Shoes accessories
|
129
|
161
|
160
|
174
|
212
|
212
|
204
|
198
|
185
|
208
|
|
Leather goods
|
30
|
40
|
40
|
46
|
56
|
54
|
59
|
62
|
46
|
52
|
|
Leather clothing
|
5
|
4
|
5
|
4
|
9
|
11
|
7
|
7
|
5
|
8
|
|
Other products
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
2
|
6
|
5
|
4
|
5
|
4
|
4
|
|
Total (MTD)
|
298
|
378
|
379
|
456
|
583
|
585
|
611
|
621
|
644
|
697
|
Italy, France and Germany are the main clients of tunisian exports. Italy is number one accounting for 39 % of tunisian exports, followed by France for 37 % and Germany for 10 %.
Trade Balance
- In 2006, tunisian exports have amounted to 697 millions tunisian dinars against imports of 344 millions tunisian dinars, thus generating a positive trade balance for Tunisia of 353 millions tunisian dinars.
- In 1999, exports amounted to 379 millions dinars against imports of 247 millions dinars. Therefore, the covering rate of imports by exports has grown from 153 % in 1999 to 203 % in 2006.
Leather and Shoes Industries Trade Balance Evolution
From 1997 to 2006 (in MTD)
|
|
1997
|
1998
|
1999
|
2000
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
2004
|
2005
|
2006
|
|
Exports
|
298
|
328
|
379
|
456
|
583
|
585
|
611
|
621
|
644
|
697
|
|
Imports
|
203
|
197
|
247
|
311
|
328
|
337
|
422
|
324
|
331
|
344
|
|
Trade balance
|
95
|
131
|
132
|
145
|
255
|
248
|
189
|
297
|
313
|
353
|
|
Covering rate in %
|
147
|
166
|
153
|
147
|
178
|
174
|
145
|
192
|
195
|
203
|
Partners enterprises:
Forty two enterprises of the sector are partnerships whereas eighty three are 100 % owned by foreign capital.
Breakdown of partnership enterprises by activities
|
Activities
|
Leather preparation and tanning
|
Leather clothing
|
Travel and leather goods
|
All kinds of shoes and shoes uppers
|
|
Breakdown
|
5 %
|
9 %
|
18 %
|
68 %
|
One of the main objectives of PROMOCUIR show is to promote direct foreign investments in the sector.
Compared to its competitors, Tunisia enjoys the following comparative and competitive advantages:
- Social peace, stability and security.
- Performing and reliable sourcing.
- Well trained and available manpower.
- Environmental and social standards respect.
- Competitive production costs.
- Short delivery times thanks to an efficient and modern dispatching system.
- High quality technical know-how.
- Flexible and supple production system.
- Global service offer from sub-contracting to co-contracting to final product. |
