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Tunisian olive oil exports posted exceptional performance during the first ten months of the 2025/2026 season, running from November 2025 to the end of August 2026, according to data published by the National Observatory of Agriculture (ONAGRI).
Total exports reached 381,200 tonnes with a combined value of TND 4,780.4 million, marking a 50.8% increase in volume and a 41.2% rise in revenues compared with the same period of the previous 2024/2025 season.
The export mix was split between packaged olive oil at approximately 55,400 tonnes, up 48.7% year-on-year, and bulk olive oil, which accounted for the dominant share. Packaged oil represented only 14.5% of total exported volumes, while bulk oil covered the remaining 85.5%. Extra virgin olive oil alone made up 83.5% of all shipments. Despite its limited volume, packaged olive oil contributed 19.3% of total export revenues, highlighting its higher unit value.
On the pricing front, the average export price of olive oil rose by 7.1% in August 2026 compared with the same month of the previous season, with prices ranging from TND 8.41 to TND 17.12 per kilogram depending on grade.
Tunisia expanded its global customer base, shipping olive oil to more than 82 countries, with a strong concentration in European markets. The European Union absorbed 56.6% of total sales, led by Spain at 31.9% and Italy at 19.8%. North America ranked second with a 24.4% share, of which 19.3% went to the United States and 5.1% to Canada. Asian markets received 11.5% of exports, chiefly Saudi Arabia (4.9%) and Jordan (3%). The African continent accounted for just 3.7%, with Egypt alone taking 3.1%.
In the organic segment, Tunisia exported approximately 53,000 tonnes valued at nearly TND 699.7 million over the same period. However, packaged organic olive oil represented only 6.3% of total organic shipments. The average price for organic olive oil stood at TND 13.20 per kilogram, ranging from TND 12.96 for bulk product to TND 16.74 for packaged oil. Italy remained the leading buyer of Tunisian organic olive oil with a 39% share, followed by Spain (26%), the United States (23%), and France (8%).
These indicators reflect the growing competitiveness of Tunisian olive oil in international markets and the sector's ability to capture higher value through increased focus on packaged formats and premium destinations.
Source: JawharaFM