Tunisian olive oil exports rise amid increased Italian inspections

Tunisian olive oil exports have seen significant growth during the first nine months of the 2025-2026 campaign, reaching 368,000 tonnes. This represents a 55.3% increase compared to the same period in the previous season. The total value of these sales rose by 44.4% to approximately 1.4 billion euros, a trend driven by increased product availability and a decrease in international prices compared to previous peaks.

Extra virgin oil accounts for 83.6% of the exported volume. The European Union remains the primary market, absorbing over 57% of total volumes, with Spain receiving 32.1% and Italy receiving 20%. Most revenue, over 80%, is generated from bulk oil sales, while packaged products account for only 18.6%.

In response to these market shifts, Italian authorities have increased oversight. The Central Inspectorate for the Protection of Quality and Fraud Repression of Agri-food Products (Icqrf) conducted over 7,200 olive oil inspections in 2025, a 21.1% increase from 2023. New measures include intensified controls at entry points and within large-scale retail distribution, alongside increased sample analysis to combat fraud.