The investment climate in the Tunisian manufacturing industries sector shows signs of gradual improvement, according to the results of the semi-annual survey on the investment situation published by the National Institute of Statistics (INS).
Conducted in May 2026 on a sample of 1,085 industrial companies, the survey highlights a rebound in investment activity after a period of decline.
The business leaders’ sentiment balance regarding the evolution of overall investment stood at +24% in the first half of 2026, versus +21% in the second half of 2025.
The outlook for the second half of the year remains favorable as well, as surveyed companies anticipate an increase in the sentiment balance to +26%.
Mechanical and electrical industries at the forefront
The mechanical and electrical industries appear as one of the main engines of this improvement.
In this sector, the investment sentiment balance rose from 35% in the second half of 2025 to 48% in the first half of 2026, signaling a notable acceleration of investment intentions and realizations.
The outlook remains positive for the remainder of the year. Sector companies expect an increase in their investments, with the sentiment balance expected to rise from 10% to 37% by the end of 2026.
Improvements in construction materials
The sector of construction materials, ceramics and glass industries has also recorded an improvement in its investment indicators.
The sentiment balance there rose from 10% to 19%, confirming a more favorable investment orientation in this industrial branch.
For their part, the agro-food industries maintained a relatively stable pace, while keeping positive prospects. The sentiment balance is thus expected to rise from 29% to 32%.
Textiles and chemical industries on the decline
This overall improvement, however, does not concern all industrial branches.
The textile, clothing and leather sector recorded a deterioration in its investment indicator. The sentiment balance rose from 2% to -4%, while forecasts indicate a further decline to -6% in the second half of 2026.
A less favorable trend was also observed in the chemical industries, where the sentiment balance fell from 38% to 29%. The surveyed companies nonetheless anticipate a stabilization of the investment level in the coming period.
An indicator tracked by the INS since 2001
The sentiment balance corresponds to the difference between the share of companies reporting or forecasting an increase in their investments and those reporting a decrease.
Used by the National Institute of Statistics since 2001, this indicator helps track the evolution of industrial investment and anticipate its main trends from the assessments and forecasts of business leaders and economic actors.
