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Tunisian olive oil export growth and increased EU oversight

Updated 3 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-08-26 15:26 UTC → 2026-09-10 17:42 UTC · added removed

Tunisia has experienced a significant surge in olive oil exports, reaching record levels during the 2025/2026 campaign. This growth is characterized by substantial increases in both export volume and revenue. Earlier reports highlighted a competitive advantage in the United States, where Tunisia was excluded from a new 10–12.5% tariff package that applied to several other Mediterranean nations. This exemption, combined with a strategic shift toward bottled extra-virgin olive oil, allowed Tunisia to capture a growing share of the U.S. market, potentially challenging Italian market dominance. Data from the National Observatory of Agriculture (ONAGRI) confirms that during the first nine months of the campaign, export volumes rose by 55.3% to 368,000 tonnes, compared to 236,900 tonnes in tonnes. While bulk exports historically constituted 86% of volume, the previous season. Export revenues increased by 44.4% industry is now actively transitioning toward packaged, branded products to 4.61 billion Tunisian dinars (approximately $1.6 billion or 1.4 billion euros), up from 3.19 billion dinars capture higher value and prevent the prior year. However, obscuring of Tunisian origin through foreign blending. Moez Ben Amor, CEO of the fact Office national de l’huile (ONH), noted that revenue growth lagged behind volume growth indicates a decrease in packaged export volumes have reached approximately 55,000 tonnes, surpassing the average return per kilogram, driven by increased product availability and 42,000 tonnes recorded during the previous entire campaign, with a decrease in international prices. Extra virgin olive oil accounted for 83.6% target of the total volume exported. While bulk exports still constitute 60,000 tonnes by the majority end of volume at 86%, packaged the current season. Tunisian olive oil contributed 18.6% of total revenue, underscoring is now available in 82 international markets, following the higher value recent addition of processed goods. The seven new markets, including Taiwan. This expansion aims to leverage Tunisia’s production capacity, which could rank second globally by volume in the 2025/2026 season. Meanwhile, the European Union remains the primary destination for 57.1% of exports, led by Spain (32.1%) and Italy (20%), while North America has established itself as the second-largest market at 24%. As export volumes rise, Italian authorities have intensified continue to intensify oversight to combat fraud. The Central Inspectorate for the Protection of Quality and Fraud Repression of Agri-food Products (Icqrf) conducted over 7,200 inspections in 2025, a 21.1% increase from 2023, implementing stricter controls at entry points and within retail distribution.

Versions

  1. 2026-09-10 17:42 UTC Tunisian olive oil export growth and increased EU oversight
  2. 2026-08-26 15:26 UTC Tunisian olive oil export growth and increased EU oversight
  3. 2026-08-21 18:16 UTC Tunisian olive oil export growth
  4. 2026-08-21 13:53 UTC Tunisian olive oil export growth

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