Italy has become the top destination for Tunisia’s organic olive oil exports, accounting for 52.5 percent of the total volume, according to the National Observatory of Agriculture (Onagri). By the end of May 2023, Tunisia had exported 41,300 tons of organic olive oil, worth approximately 719.8 million dinars (€215 million). Organic production in the country reached 105,000 tons in 2021, representing 44 percent of the total production. Spain and France follow Italy as the second and third largest destinations for Tunisian organic olive oil exports, accounting for 36.3 percent and 7.9 percent respectively.
The total export of olive oil from Tunisia for the 2022/23 crop year increased by 36.9 percent compared to the previous year, amounting to around 2.1 billion dinars (€620 million). Extra virgin olive oil made up 89 percent of the total exported volume. The global demand for organic olive oil is on the rise, and it is projected to reach $2.2 billion by 2031, with an annual growth rate of nearly 9 percent.
Italy, despite being the second-largest olive oil exporter globally, relies on Tunisia for its contract requirements and domestic demand. Large bottlers in Italy purchase olive oil from Tunisia, with the organic exports forming a significant portion of Tunisia’s production. Between January and April 2023, Italy imported 10,078 tons of virgin and extra virgin olive oil from Tunisia out of a total of 128,658 tons imported.
Tunisia is looking to expand its presence in the international market for bottled, value-added, and organic extra virgin olive oil. The country aims to reach 70,000 metric tons of individually packaged olive oil exports by 2025. Europe is the largest importer of Tunisia’s olive oil, accounting for 77 percent of total exports, followed by North America (16 percent) and Africa (5 percent). This marks a shift from Tunisia’s previous role as a bulk olive oil exporter, with European companies blending and packaging the oil for re-export.
Source: EnergyPortal
