Tunisia: olive oil secures global spotlight as fourth-largest exporter
Tunisia is poised to promote sustainable economic development, drive agricultural innovation, and solidify its position as a leading global supplier of premium olive-derived products. The future of Tunisian olive oil appears brighter than ever, according to recent statements by Tunisian officials.
Trade and Export Development Minister Samir Abid announced that Tunisia now ranks as the fourth-largest global exporter of olive oil, holding a 10% share of worldwide exports. Over the past five years, overseas sales have shown a consistent upward trend.
'Tunisian olive oil, renowned for its nutritional benefits, continues to stand out for its exceptional quality. Thanks to the relentless efforts of our producers and targeted promotional initiatives, it has cemented its place in international markets and shone at top global competitions, earning a record number of awards and medals, Abid stated.
In 2024, Tunisia exported olive oil worth 4.8 billion dinars to 64 destinations, up from 55 markets in 2023. Key European buyers include Italy, Spain, France, Portugal, and Belgium.
Abid highlighted that packaged olive oil exports now account for 21% of total exports, marking a 92% surge in 2024. He emphasized the sector's critical role in the national economy and its 'exceptional quality,' which positions it for significant growth in the EU and global markets.
'We are witnessing stronger export opportunities and direct partnerships between Tunisian businesses and European market players,' he added.
New national program to boost global presence
An ambitious 2025 National Program to promote Tunisian olive oil has been launched, featuring 20 promotional initiatives aimed at strengthening its foothold in traditional markets while exploring new opportunities.
Developed in collaboration with key stakeholders—including the Export Promotion Center (CEPEX), PACKTEC, the National Olive Oil Office (ONH), the Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade, and Handicrafts (UTICA), and olive heritage institutions—the program will focus on participation in international trade fairs, B2B meetings, overseas commercial days, and hosting potential buyers in Tunisia.
'These efforts will enhance global awareness and visibility of Tunisian olive oil in competitive markets,' Abid affirmed.
Export revenue declines despite volume growth
Despite rising export volumes, olive oil revenue for the first five months of the 2024/2025 campaign (ending March 2025) fell by 25.8% year-on-year to 2.126 billion dinars, according to the National Observatory of Agriculture (ONAGRI).
The average price of olive oil dropped by 54% in March 2025 compared to the same month last year, ranging between 8 to 18.4 dinars per kilogram depending on grade.
Export volumes, however, surged by 46.3% to 157,200 tons, with packaged oil representing just 10.2% of total exports.
ONAGRI noted a stagnation in packaged oil exports compared to the previous campaign. Extra virgin olive oil dominated exports, making up 82.7% of total volume, while packaged oil contributed only 15.8% of revenue.
Market distribution highlights EU dominance
The EU remains the largest market for Tunisian olive oil, absorbing 60.8% of exports, followed by North America (23.2%) and Africa (9.8%). Italy leads as the top importer (29.8%), trailed by Spain (26.9%) and the United States (18.6%).
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
African Manager
2 days ago
- African Manager
Tunisia–Nigeria Business Council officially launched
The Tunisia–Nigeria Business Council (TNBC) was officially launched during the Afreximbank Annual Meetings (AAM), held from June 25 to 28, 2025, in Abuja (Nigeria), the Tunisia-Africa Business Council (TABC) announced on Wednesday. This is a strategic initiative led by TABC as part of its policy to strengthen economic ties with Sub-Saharan African markets. On this occasion, Chris Eruba was officially introduced as the president of the TNBC. The TNBC aims to become a key bilateral platform dedicated to structuring, enhancing, and promoting economic, industrial, commercial, and financial partnerships between Tunisia and Nigeria. TABC reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Tunisian companies in their expansion strategies across Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Nigeria, a country with over 220 million people and promising economic prospects. It also noted that Tunisian exports to Nigeria have quadrupled in one year, rising from 7 million dinars between January and April 2024 to 82 million dinars by the end of April 2025. Nigeria now ranks among the top Sub-Saharan destinations for Tunisian exports. Interested companies can register via the following link: [
African Manager
3 days ago
- African Manager
Tunisia: 70% of country's exports go to EU
Riadh Bezzarga, Director of Market Studies and Strategy at the Export Promotion Center (CEPEX), announced that Tunisian exports in 2024 are estimated at 62 billion dinars, while exports to African markets (goods only) reached just 0.25 billion dinars, about 4%. Speaking on Express FM' during the first edition of the Africa Business Partnership Days held at the Exporters' House and running through June 25, Bezzarga noted that five main markets: Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Cameroon, and Gabon alone account for nearly 50% of Tunisia's exports to Africa. He pointed out that Tunisia is working to diversify its export markets, as 70% of its exports currently go to the European Union. This heavy dependence poses a risk in the event of crises in Europe. Accordingly, efforts have been made to reorient exports toward America, Africa, and Asia. A specific strategy for sub-Saharan Africa has been implemented, expanding beyond goods to include services in sectors such as healthcare, private universities, banking, and new technologies. He also noted that over 80% of Tunisian exports come from fully export-oriented companies, meaning the actual share of exports to Africa exceeds 4%, especially when compared to just 1% twenty years ago.
African Manager
6 days ago
- African Manager
China is set to be resilient to global trade shocks
The year started for China with a positive tone on the back of a turnaround in private sector sentiment, driven by a more supportive economic policy mix, optimism around the country's capabilities on artificial intelligence (AI), and a stabilization in manufacturing activity. Importantly, this came after years of subdued investor appetite and volatile growth on the back of real estate wounds, regulatory stringency, limited official stimulus, and the trauma from hard pandemic lockdowns. Such positive outlook and turnaround translated into stronger activity and constant upgrades in growth expectations since September 2024. However, global macro prospects were suddenly shaken by a radical shift in US trade policies in February, when president Trump announced a massive increase in import tariffs. China, in particular, was singled out by the US with 'embargo like' 140% tariffs and much less room for exemptions. After bilateral negotiations started, tariffs were reduced to a more manageable but still high 40% rate. Despite this major shock, China's economy appears to be resilient. In fact, across major economies, China seems to be the least affected by growth expectations downgrades since US tariffs 'Liberation Day,' even if the country is by far the largest exporter globally. 2025 growth expectations downgrades (Bloomberg consensus, % real GDP growth for the year) Sources: Bloomberg, QNB analysis In our view, three main factors sustain a more optimistic economic take on China in the face of the US policy shock. First, despite being the world's largest exporter and a key node in global manufacturing, the overall impact from US tariffs on China's growth is very limited. This is largely due to the declining importance of the US as an export destination and Beijing's strategic reorientation of trade flows. In the early 2000s, the US accounted for nearly 20% of Chinese exports, but this share has declined to around 15% in recent years, equivalent to around 2.8% of the country's GDP. Exports grew stronger in markets such as Southeast Asia, the EU, and Belt and Road countries, helping to offset US-driven losses. Moreover, exports themselves have been declining in overall importance to China's economic model, now contributing less than 20% to GDP – compared to 35% in 2006 – amid a policy-led pivot toward domestic consumption, high-tech innovation, and services. These structural shifts, coupled with adaptive trade strategies, have helped insulate China from the full brunt of Trump-era tariffs, reducing their macroeconomic impact and sustaining the country's external surplus. Chinese exports of goods in perspective (USD Bn, total for 2024) Sources: Haver, QNB analysis Second, tariffs are blunt tools in a world of fragmented supply chains, and China's central role in global production networks has significantly diluted their effectiveness. Unlike the bilateral trade flows of the past, modern goods cross multiple borders during assembly, making it hard to isolate national value added. Multinational firms adapt quickly, shifting final assembly to third countries while maintaining Chinese inputs through transhipment. These workarounds often outpace enforcement, undermining the intent of protectionist policies. Additionally, a substantial share of Chinese exports – such as critical components in electronics, machinery, and pharmaceuticals – are not easily substitutable and remain essential to US firms and supply stability. As a result, tariffs are unlikely to trigger reshoring and China is expected to retain its role as an indispensable link in global manufacturing. Third, US tariffs are expected to be offset by the devaluation of the Chinese renminbi (RMB), particularly in real effective terms, which is enhancing China's price competitiveness globally. Since the escalation of the 'trade war' in February, the RMB has weakened against the USD, but even more so against a broader basket of currencies, resulting in a meaningful depreciation of China's real effective exchange rate (REER). This has lowered the relative cost of Chinese exports in non-USD markets, helping Chinese firms gain market share globally despite higher US tariffs. The REER adjustment acts as an automatic stabilizer for China. In effect, the RMB's adjustment is helping to preserve or even increase external demand, ensuring continued export surplus, further underscoring the limitations of unilateral trade barriers. All in all, China's growth prospects this year remain moderately robust despite continued trade tensions. This is due to a structural decline in US export dependence, the ineffectiveness of tariffs in a globalized supply chain environment, and the competitive tailwind from a weaker RMB collectively cushioning the Chinese economy from material external shocks.
