Before the revolution of 2011 the company was the fifth largest phosphate producer in the world, but since then strikes and social unrest have caused production to drop by half.

In April 1885 the French amateur geologist Philippe Thomas discovered rich layers of calcium phosphates on the north slope of Jebel Thelja in the Métlaoui region of western Tunisia.

Further geological surveys and explorations found significant phosphate deposits to the south and north of the Île de Kasserine.

[1] The government at first offered a concession to exploit the phosphates only on condition of building a port to export the ore and a railway to carry it from the mines.

[3] In the early 20th century the plentiful phosphate reserves in Tunisia were second only to those of the United States, and the colonial officials were hopeful that they would revive the economy.

Although annual production reached 2 million tons in the early 1930s, the world price of phosphates dropped soon after exports from Tunisia started, and the forecast earnings were never realized.

[3] In 1994 the CTG merged with the Groupe Chimique Tunisien (GCT), based in Tunis, a public company that converts phosphate into products such as phosphoric acid and fertilizers.

The local branch of the workers' union was occupied by a group of well-educated young people, and tents were pitched on the train tracks leading from the phosphate mines.

The government imposed a strict censorship on reporting about the events in the Tunisian media, although some news appeared in the international press.

Starting in January 2011 strikes and protest movements organized by the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) caused a 40% decline in production and loss of international markets, particularly in India.

[12] The company also faced competition from expanded phosphate production in Morocco and new producers in Saudi Arabia and Peru, coupled with declining demand in India and China.

In May 2015 the managers and agents of the company suspended administrative and social activities, stopped payments and closed the head office.