Recent official statistics from Tunisia’s Ministry of Trade confirm the country’s standing as the leading global exporter of olive oil outside the European Union.
With an anticipated production of one million tons of olives and 200,000 tons of olive oil this season – an 11% increase from the previous year – Tunisia is poised for a record harvest.
Global Recognition for Excellence
Tunisia dominated the Afro-Asian International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition, organized by Sweden’s Global Olive Oil Competitions from April 1-4, 2025 in Abu Dhabi.
The country secured an impressive haul of 60 gold medals (53 for quality, 7 for health benefits) and 4 silver medals, outperforming traditional producers like Greece (2nd) and Spain (3rd).
Raouf Choukat, President of the GIOOC and a Tunisian engineer, told TAP news agency that Tunisia submitted 65 of the 200 total samples evaluated by an international jury from seven countries. Fourteen nations participated in the prestigious competition, namely Greece, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Croatia, Algeria, Libya, Turkey, Morocco, Jordan, Lebanon and the Sultanate of Oman.
For years, the Tunisian government has been committed to a program to add value to its quality olive oil. Through initiatives such as agri-food investments and innovative marketing strategies, the sector aims to move from mass production to packaged oils.
Training initiatives have been introduced to promote environmentally friendly production practices, improving biosecurity, sustainability and conservation.
The aim is clear: to put Tunisian olive oil on the world map, help local producers access high-value export markets and improve product quality.
The initiative also aims to strengthen the sector’s resilience in the face of climate change.
With roots dating back to pre-Roman times, the Tunisian olive sector is at a turning point in its history. It is preparing for a renaissance thanks to wise investments, well thought-out export strategies, food safety measures and a solid brand image.
The future looks brighter than ever!
Tunisia can promote sustainable economic development, encourage agricultural innovation and strengthen its position as the world’s leading supplier of quality olive oil products. The future of Tunisian olive oil looks brighter than ever (…).
According to the National Olive Oil Board (ONH), olive oil export revenues increased by 16.6% to 281 million dinars (MD) in November 2024, compared to 241 MD in November 2023.
This improvement is mainly due to the 47% increase in the quantity of olive oil exported, to 14781 tonnes, despite a 20.6% drop in prices, from 23,974 thousand dinars/tonne in November 2023 to 19,022 thousand dinars/ton currently.
It should be noted that the quantities of packaged olive oil exported increased by 30%, reaching 2.5 thousand tons with a value of 67 MD.
