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Moldi Romdhani, a member of the National Olive Oil Council in Tunisia, has announced projections for a 40% decline in the olive harvest for the 2026-2027 season. This significant drop is attributed to persistent drought conditions and rising temperatures, which have heavily impacted non-irrigated plantations. Despite these challenges, national olive oil production is estimated to reach approximately 300,000 tons, with output appearing more stable in irrigated regions such as Kairouan and Sidi Bouzid.
Regarding the harvest schedule, authorities in Kairouan have set October 26, 2026, as the official start date for the season, following earlier kick-offs in Medenine and Sidi Bouzid. However, the full-scale opening of crushing mills is expected in early November to allow the fruit to reach optimal maturity. Current oil yields are reported as low, requiring between 9 and 12 kg of olives to extract a single liter of oil.
Market prices for olives 'al-Baz' at the mills currently fluctuate between 9 and 10 Tunisian Dinars (TND) per kilogram. Consequently, the final retail price of olive oil is anticipated to range between 12 and 13 TND per liter, factoring in extraction costs and agency sales fees. Farmers and industry stakeholders are calling for the establishment of robust markets to absorb the season's production while ensuring that the financial burdens on growers are adequately covered.
Source: Tuniscope