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The Tunisian government, chaired by Prime Minister Sara Zafarani Zenzri, has approved a series of strategic measures to support the olive oil sector for the 2026-2027 season. The decisions aim to bolster the competitiveness of Tunisian olive oil in international markets while supporting the entire value chain, from harvesting and processing to storage and export.
On the financial front, the government has allocated 150 million TND to the Office National de l'Huile (ONH) to purchase olive oil from national production, funded by both public and private banks. This measure is intended to strengthen the ONH's role in market regulation. Additionally, 20 million TND in soft loans will be provided to smallholders through the Banque Tunisienne de Solidarité, with priority given to machine-harvesting equipment grants. The 2027 Finance Law project also includes a 100 million TND credit line for the 2027-2030 period, offering seasonal and investment loans at preferential interest rates via the Banque Nationale Agricole.
Regarding storage, the ONH has been tasked with a program to store up to 60,000 tons of olive oil for three months, supported by a 20 million TND grant ceiling. A permanent 'Olive Oil System Account' will be established within the Treasury to fund storage operations and maintain ONH storage facilities long-term.
To boost exports, the maritime transport subsidy for bottled olive oil will increase from 50% to 60%, aiming to enhance value-added exports. New incentives will also cover packaging sizes between 3 and 5 liters. Furthermore, the government plans to double the volume of bottled and organic oil exports and launch a specialized program to assist startups in accessing foreign markets. The Central Bank of Tunisia will coordinate with commercial banks to reschedule debts for small-scale farmers, while a strategic study will be conducted to restructure the ONH and modernize the sector.
Source: Al Masdar Tunisia