Tunisia's Olive Oil Exports Reach Record High
Tunisia has never sold as much of its "green gold" as it has this year. In the first four months of the 2025/2026 campaign, from November 2025 to February 2026, the country exported 184,300 tons of olive oil, representing a nearly 50% increase compared to the same period last year. In terms of value, the revenue exceeded 2.26 billion dinars, a 34% increase, according to Onagri.
The Numbers Behind the Performance
The figures are impressive, but the picture deserves to be nuanced. Most of the exported volumes are sold in bulk, with 88.5% of the oil traveling in tankers, without packaging or Tunisian labeling. Only 11.5% of the volume is packaged, with bottles bearing the country's identity, and this represents only 15.5% of the total revenue.
A Structural Weakness
This is the structural Achilles' heel of the industry. Tunisia sells its oil as a raw material, often to be resold under Italian or Spanish brands at several times the price. The slight increase in packaged oil compared to the previous campaign (10.2% vs. 11.5%) is a positive sign, but there is still a long way to go.
Quality and Pricing
On the other hand, the quality of the oil is excellent, with 87.6% of the exported volumes classified as extra virgin, the noblest category. In February 2026, the average price of Tunisian olive oil for export decreased by 4% compared to February 2025, from 12.51 to 12.01 DT/kg. This moderate decline likely reflects a global increase in supply after the climatic difficulties of previous years. Prices vary by category, ranging from 9.22 to 16.07 DT/kg.
Export Markets
Not surprisingly, Europe remains the largest customer, accounting for 57% of the volume. Spain alone absorbs 32% of total exports, a dominant position, especially since Spain is itself a major producer. Italy follows with 20%, and the United States with 15%. North America accounts for 19% of the market, Asia for 13%, and Africa, despite its geographical and cultural proximity to Tunisia, only reaches 6.6%, a potential that remains largely untapped.
Organic Olive Oil Exports
During the same period, 22,300 tons of organic olive oil were exported, with a value of 297.7 million dinars. The average price of organic oil is 13.32 DT/kg and rises to 19.32 DT/kg when packaged, compared to 12.78 DT/kg in bulk. Again, packaging is marginal, with only 8.3% of the organic volume being exported in bottles. The main importers are Italy (42%), Spain (23%), the United States (16%), and France (12%).
The Challenge Ahead
Tunisia is exporting well, and even better than before. However, it is still exporting too early in the value chain. The real battle, that of branding, packaging, and traceability, remains to be fought. As long as Tunisian extra virgin olive oil arrives on European shelves under another flag, a significant portion of the added value escapes the country. The 2025/2026 campaign is a good season, but the next challenge is to turn it into a sustainable strategy.
