Amazon FBA: Selling Olive Oil in the USA (the real

In brief. Selling olive oil on Amazon FBA in the United States is not "shipping bottles": you first have to clear the FDA wall (facility registration, US agent, FSVP, prior notice before each shipment), a compliant label (Nutrition Facts in tablespoons, dual weight units), then absorb the Amazon fees + FBA fees that often weigh 30 to 45% of the selling price. Profitable if the product margin holds after this deduction — otherwise it's a trap.

The American market is huge and Tunisian olive oil is already present there. Amazon promises direct access to the consumer, without a retail listing. But between customs, the FDA and the real economics of an FBA sale, many launch without having costed the true price. Here is the framework, in order.

Can you sell olive oil on Amazon FBA in the USA?

Yes, but olive oil is a food, so it is subject to the FDA before you even talk about Amazon. Concretely, you must: register the production establishment with the FDA, appoint a US agent, set up an FSVP (Foreign Supplier Verification Program) programme, and file a prior notice for each shipment. Without this, the goods are blocked at entry.

Amazon is only the last step. The real filter is regulatory and customs-related. You settle compliance first, then FBA logistics.

The 5 FDA regulatory locks

Handle them in this order, before any shipment to an Amazon warehouse:

1. FDA facility registration — free, to be renewed; the producing establishment must be declared.
2. US Agent — mandatory for a foreign facility; indicative annual cost ~$350–850.
3. FSVP — you (or your US importer) must document that the supplier meets food safety standards.
4. Prior notice — notification to the FDA before each shipment. A miss = entry refusal.
5. Compliant label — Nutrition Facts based on a one-tablespoon serving (1 tbsp), dual weight units (imperial + metric), text in English. A non-compliant label is a classic blocking reason.

These requirements also fall under the FSMA. A mistake here cannot be caught up on the Amazon side: it immobilises the goods at customs.

How much does Amazon actually take?

This is the calculation too many sellers skip. On FBA, two layers of fees stack up:

Item	Order of magnitude	Note
Amazon fee (Grocery)	~8% (item ≤ $15) otherwise ~15%	Grocery category
FBA fees (prep/shipping)	from ~$3.22/unit	+ depending on weight/size
Storage	variable, surcharged off-season	Glass is heavy and bulky
Typical total	~30 to 45% of the selling price	To factor in BEFORE setting the price

Glass is heavy and fragile: the freight and FBA fees of an oil bottle are higher than those of a small dry product. This is the point that kills the most olive oil FBA business plans.

The real economics: is it profitable?

The only question that matters: what is left after FDA, customs, freight, Amazon and product cost?

• The base MFN on olive oil is low (~3.4–5 ¢/kg), but the US tariff context is unstable (Section 122/301 surcharges, fluctuating status): to be settled with a US customs broker before any quotation.
• No federal VAT, but MPF + HMF are added on import.
• If Amazon fees absorb 30–45% and the product is rebadged bulk with low margin, nothing is left. FBA only makes sense with a value-added brand (organic, single-variety, terroir, premium packaging) that supports a sufficient shelf price.

Benchmarks visible on Amazon US: the official Terra Delyssa store, Moulins Mahjoub, and the fact that Trader Joe's has already sold a "Tunisian Organic Chetoui" — the Tunisian route exists, but it plays out on the brand, not the price.

Sidebar: the 3 angles of the same project

• Seller/brand-builder side: FBA gets you closer to the consumer, but is only profitable with a product margin that absorbs 30–45% of fees. Aim for added value, not low-cost volume.
• Tunisian exporter side: this is a packaged/branded outlet, not bulk — so margin side (~30%) rather than volume side. See bulk or packaged: the real profitability.
• Compliance side: FDA/FSVP is a non-negotiable prerequisite; a partner who masters it saves you months. A poorly prepared first shipment ends in a customs refusal.

The costly mistake

Setting the selling price without having costed the Amazon + FDA + freight + customs fees. You see a $12 shelf price and believe in the margin — then the 30–45% FBA fees, customs and the cost of glass turn the margin into a loss. The rule: build the price backwards, from the shelf price to the cost, and only launch if the margin survives. To prepare the import itself, see securing your first import; for the US market in general, see the buying culture in the USA; and for the brand project, launching your olive oil brand.

FAQ

What FDA authorisations are needed to sell olive oil in the USA?

FDA facility registration, an appointed US agent, an FSVP programme and prior notice before each shipment. Oil is a food subject to the FSMA. Without these elements, the goods are refused at entry, regardless of Amazon.

How much does Amazon FBA take on an olive oil sale?

Expect a fee of roughly 8 to 15% (grocery category) plus FBA fees from about $3.22/unit and storage, for a typical total of 30 to 45% of the selling price. The weight of glass adds to the bill.

Does Tunisian olive oil sell well on Amazon US?

Yes, Tunisian origins are present there (Terra Delyssa, Moulins Mahjoub; Trader Joe's has sold a Tunisian organic Chetoui). But success plays out on the brand and added value (organic, single-variety, terroir), not on a low price against FBA fees.

Are there customs duties on olive oil in the USA?

The base MFN tariff is low (~3.4–5 ¢/kg), but the US surcharge context is unstable (Section 122/301). The exact status is to be validated with a US customs broker before any quotation. MPF and HMF are added; no federal VAT.

Do you need a special label for the USA?

Yes. An English-language label with Nutrition Facts based on a one-tablespoon serving (1 tbsp), dual weight units (imperial and metric) and FDA statements. A non-compliant label is one of the most frequent blocking reasons at customs.

Is it better to sell in bulk or under a brand for the USA?

For Amazon FBA, it is necessarily packaged under a brand: it is a margin-side outlet (~30%) and not a volume-side one. Bulk targets US importers and bottlers instead. See our bulk/packaged comparison to decide according to your objective.

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Are you targeting the American market? Request a quote: we reply within 24-48h with a quotation per format and incoterm, COA in hand, tailored to an FDA/FBA project.