Tunisia targets market diversification for olive oil and date exports

Tunisia is implementing a strategic push to diversify the export markets for its olive oil and date sectors, aiming to strengthen its presence in Asia, Africa, and the Americas. To support this, the Ministry of Commerce and Export Development, alongside the Banking and Financial Council (CBF), held an information session in Tunis to discuss financing mechanisms and risk management for exporters.

The date sector has reached a historic milestone, with export revenues exceeding one billion dinars following a record national production of 404,000 tonnes. Similarly, the olive oil sector has seen significant growth, with export revenues reaching 3.77 billion dinars in the first eight months of 2026, a 39.5% increase compared to the previous year.

Notably, Tunisia has emerged as a leading supplier of olive oil to the United States, reportedly surpassing Spain and Italy in volume during the first eight months of 2026. Financial institutions have expressed readiness to support these industries by providing credit for transformation, packaging, and storage, as well as tools to mitigate exchange rate risks and secure international transactions.