Tunisia's Olive Oil Exports Reach Record as US Tariff Exemption Boosts Sales

Tunisia's olive oil sector recorded a historic surge, with export revenues exceeding €1.3 billion and a 56.7% increase in volume during the 2024‑2025 campaign. The United States, the third‑largest market after Spain and Italy, continued to import Tunisian oil under normal duty rates because the Trump administration excluded Tunisia from a new 10‑12.5% tariff package that targets 60 other countries, including Morocco, Algeria, Egypt and Turkey.

The tariff exemption strengthens Tunisia’s competitive position, especially as the country shifts toward bottled extra‑virgin olive oil, a segment that grew 57% in the first quarter of the 2025‑2026 campaign. This expansion threatens Italy’s market share in the United States, where Italian bottled oil accounts for about 90% of its exports. Tunisian exports now represent roughly 16‑18% of the U.S. olive‑oil market, with a growing share of premium bottled product.

The growth is documented by the National Agriculture Observatory (Onagri), which reported 352 kt exported in the first eight months of the campaign, a 45% rise in revenue. Analysts note that the new US trade stance could reshape Mediterranean olive‑oil trade dynamics.