Tunisian olive oil has made significant inroads into international markets, with exports rising sharply, particularly to Spain and Italy, its two main buyers. According to the National Observatory of Agriculture (ONAGRI), the country exported 381,200 tonnes of olive oil worth 4.78 billion TND (1.42 billion euros) in the first 10 months of the 2025/2026 agricultural season. This represents a 50.8% increase in volume and a 41.2% rise in revenue compared to the same period in the previous season.
The export growth has been driven by strong international demand, which is expected to continue to fuel investments in new olive groves and increased production capacities across the country. Despite natural fluctuations in olive production and growing climate pressures, Tunisia's average production has consistently increased over time. The country's olive oil production has been steadily rising, with the USDA estimating that the area planted with olive trees reached 2.06 million hectares in 2024/2025 and 2.10 million hectares in 2025/2026.
However, the sector still faces significant challenges, including fluctuations in production due to climate change and the natural alternate-bearing cycle of olive trees. Najah Saïdi Hamed, president of the National Chamber of Olive Producers, expects production to decline to around 300,000 tonnes in 2026/2027, a 40% drop from the previous season. He attributes this decline mainly to the alternate-bearing cycle and notes that higher international prices may help maintain export revenues despite lower production.
Climate change is a significant concern for the sector, with rising temperatures and changing weather patterns affecting production. In Sousse, Hassen Latif, president of the Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Union, reported that an initial estimate of 100,000 tonnes of olives was revised downward to 90,000 tonnes due to exceptionally high summer temperatures. Ahmed Hamza, co-founder and general manager of Olyfo, a leading olive oil producer, emphasizes that climate change poses a significant long-term challenge to the sector.
The majority of Tunisian olive oil exports are in bulk, accounting for 85.5% of total exports. Bulk sales generated 80.7% of export revenues, while packaged olive oil accounted for 14.5% of volumes but 19.3% of revenues. The average export value of packaged olive oil was around 16.7 TND per kilogram, compared to 11.8 TND for bulk oil.
Despite the dominance of bulk exports, there is a growing recognition of the need to promote Tunisian branded products. Ahmed Hamza emphasizes that the country should capitalize on bulk exports while actively promoting its branded products. The export market for Tunisian olive oil is concentrated, with Spain and Italy accounting for over half of total exports. These countries also dominate the market for Tunisian organic olive oil.
A 2020 World Bank analysis of the Tunisian olive oil value chain found that Spain and Italy primarily import bulk olive oil from Tunisia for re-export under their own brands or blending with local oils. As the sector looks to the future, there is a need to balance the benefits of bulk exports with the goal of promoting higher-value branded products and diversifying export markets.
Key points
- Tunisian olive oil exports reached 381,200 tonnes in the first 10 months of the 2025/2026 agricultural season, with bulk sales dominating the market.
- The sector faces challenges including climate change, fluctuations in production, and the need to promote higher-value branded products.
- Spain and Italy account for over half of Tunisian olive oil exports, with a significant focus on bulk sales.
