Advertise
Tunisia is strategically enhancing its export financing systems and financial support mechanisms to bolster the competitiveness of its flagship agricultural products in global markets. Minister of Trade and Export Development, Samir Obeid, emphasized during a specialized forum at the Banking and Financial Council that timely and adequate financing is now a fundamental requirement for sustaining national export growth and converting trade opportunities into high-value, sustainable operations.
The Minister highlighted that successful exporting requires more than product quality; it demands financial resources across the entire value chain—from production and processing to storage, packaging, and international marketing—alongside robust risk management. These efforts coincide with a significant food trade balance surplus of 919.8 million dinars recorded in the first nine months of 2026, with an export-to-import coverage ratio reaching 116.3%.
Olive oil remains the cornerstone of Tunisia's food exports, accounting for 61% of total value as of September 2026. Between November 2025 and October 2026, export volumes exceeded 399.4 thousand tons, valued at approximately 5.016 billion dinars. This represents a 48.7% increase in volume and a 39.4% rise in value year-on-year. Currently, Tunisia stands as the world's leading olive oil exporter outside the European Union and the second-largest globally after Spain, with extra virgin olive oil making up nearly 90% of total exports.
Naji Ghandri, President of the Banking and Financial Council, confirmed that total financing directed toward the olive oil sector has reached 3.2 billion dinars. He reiterated the banking sector's commitment to supporting millers and exporters, particularly in transitioning from bulk exports to bottled products, which currently represent only 15% of exports. Furthermore, COTUNACE CEO Nabgha Neifer Idriss underscored the importance of trade credit insurance in protecting exporters against non-payment risks, enabling Tunisian firms to confidently explore new markets in Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
Source: Assabah news