Olive oil buying culture in Russia: what buyers expect

In brief. Contrary to a stubborn misconception, Tunisian olive oil is not under Russian embargo: Tunisia appears on no list of targeted countries, and the customs code of olive oil (1509) is not concerned by the food embargo. The customs duty is 5%. The real obstacle is neither customs nor sanitary: it is banking. The "de-risking" of correspondent banks complicates transfers. The documented workaround: denominate the contract in AED or CNY rather than USD/EUR, obtain the bank's prior written agreement, and anticipate TR TS product compliance. A non-priority market, but whose only lock is payment.

Understanding what "exporting olive oil to Russia" really means first requires dismantling a widespread confusion. Many exporters dismiss this market believing the oil is banned. It is false. This market is not a priority — but for a precise reason, a financial one, that must be named correctly to decide knowingly. Here are the facts, dated and verifiable.

No, Tunisian olive oil is not under embargo

This is the first thing to establish, because the error costs opportunities. Tunisian olive oil is targeted by no Russian embargo, and this for two independent reasons, each sufficient on its own (verified July 2026 — to be reconfirmed before any operation):

• Tunisia appears on no list of countries targeted by the food embargo. No country of the Maghreb or the Arab world appears on it. Tunisia is not classified as an "unfriendly country" either.
• The customs code of olive oil (heading 1509) is not concerned. In the fats chapter, only certain animal fats are targeted — no vegetable oil.

In other words, Tunisian olive oil can legally enter Russia. There is no legal obstacle to the sale itself. The obstacle is elsewhere.

The customs regime: a 5% duty

On the customs side, the situation is ordinary. Olive oil falls under the common external tariff of the Eurasian Economic Union with a 5% import duty on extra virgin, plus import VAT at the reduced food rate.

Two practical points of vigilance:

• Up-to-date customs codes. Use the current 10-digit codes of heading 1509. Old codes were removed at the end of 2021: reusing them in a contract or a template document would be a formal error to avoid.
• Signal to watch. Negotiations towards a free trade agreement between the Eurasian Union and Tunisia were officially launched (May 2026). Such an agreement would remove the 5% duty — to be followed, without prejudging it.

Nothing insurmountable here: the 5% duty is a normal cost, not a lock.

The real obstacle: payment, not customs

Here is the heart of the matter. The blockage is neither tariff nor sanitary — it is banking. No Tunisian bank is sanctioned and Tunisia applies no sanctions against Russia: there is therefore, once again, no legal obstacle.

The problem comes from the "de-risking" of correspondent banks. These intermediary banks, through which an international transfer passes, often refuse to process payments linked to Russia — not because it is forbidden, but out of fear of secondary sanctions. They prefer to give up the operation rather than take the slightest risk. Concrete result: the transfer can remain blocked even when the transaction is perfectly legal.

It is this point, and it alone, that justifies classifying Russia among the markets to treat with caution for a first export. The risk is not selling; it is getting paid.

How to structure a payment that goes through

If this market were one day to be worked, the workaround is documented. It rests on the choice of currency and on upstream banking preparation:

• Denominate the contract in AED (Emirati dirham) or in CNY (yuan) rather than USD or EUR. These currencies bypass the corridors most exposed to secondary sanctions.
• Choose a Russian bank off the sanctions list on the buyer's side.
• Explicitly document the payment reason: specify that the goods (code 1509, origin Tunisia) are not sanctioned, to lift the doubts of the banking chain.
• Plan a fallback corridor via the Emirates or Turkey.
• Absolute rule: obtain the prior written agreement of the correspondent bank before signing anything. You do not commit to a contract you have not confirmed can be collected.

It is the same reflex as on any market where collection is the weak point: secure the money before the goods. See our page export payment terms.

Product compliance: TR TS to anticipate

Last part, purely technical. To enter the Eurasian Union market, olive oil must be the subject of a declaration of conformity with the TR TS technical regulations applicable to fat products, food safety and labelling.

Testing is done in an accredited laboratory, the declaration can be valid for several years in serial production. To be anticipated in cost and lead time: it is not a substantive obstacle, but a step to integrate into the calendar. The detail in our export documentation.

Should you work Russia? The honest decision point

Let us be clear: Russia is not a priority market for a first export of Tunisian olive oil. Not because of an embargo that does not exist, nor a reasonable 5% customs duty, nor TR TS compliance that is manageable — but because of the only high risk: payment.

It is precisely for this that it must be said honestly rather than peddling the embargo legend. An exporter who understands that the lock is banking, and not legal, can decide knowingly: either postpone this market while waiting for smoother payment corridors, or work it starting today provided they obtain the written banking agreement and denominate in AED/CNY.

The embargo misconception scares off exporters when the real issue is manageable for whoever prepares their financial structure. Do not let a confusion deprive you of an informed decision: if Russia interests you, the first question to ask is not "is it allowed?" (it is), but "will my bank confirm the collection?". Ask it now, before any commitment.

FAQ

Is Tunisian olive oil under embargo in Russia?

No. Tunisia appears on no list of countries targeted by the Russian food embargo, and the customs code of olive oil (heading 1509) is not concerned: only certain animal fats are, not vegetable oils. The sale is legal; the only real obstacle is banking (verified July 2026, to be reconfirmed).

What is the real obstacle to exporting olive oil to Russia?

Payment. No Tunisian bank is sanctioned and the sale is legal, but correspondent banks practise "de-risking": they often refuse transfers linked to Russia out of fear of secondary sanctions. The transfer can remain blocked even for a perfectly legal transaction. It is a financial obstacle, not a legal one.

In which currency should an olive oil contract with Russia be denominated?

In AED (Emirati dirham) or CNY (yuan) rather than USD or EUR, in order to bypass the banking corridors most exposed to secondary sanctions. To be completed by the choice of a Russian bank off sanctions, a documented payment reason and the prior written agreement of the correspondent bank before any signature.

What customs duty applies to olive oil in Russia?

An import duty of 5% on extra virgin in the Eurasian Economic Union tariff, plus import VAT at the reduced food rate. Remember to use the current customs codes of heading 1509: old codes were removed at the end of 2021.

What product compliance is required for Russia?

A declaration of conformity with the TR TS technical regulations applicable to fat products, food safety and labelling of the Eurasian Union. Testing is done in an accredited laboratory and the declaration can be valid for several years in serial production. It is a step to anticipate in cost and lead time, not a substantive obstacle.

Is Russia a priority market for Tunisian olive oil?

No, but not for the reasons one believes. There is neither an embargo nor a major customs or sanitary lock: the only high risk is payment. The market can therefore be worked if you obtain the written banking agreement and denominate in AED/CNY, otherwise it is better to postpone it while waiting for smoother corridors.

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Interested in Russia despite the banking issue? Request a quote — dated quote by format and incoterm, with a clear point on the payment structure (AED/CNY currency, prior banking agreement) and TR TS compliance. For all the detail, see our page exporting to Russia, our export documentation and estimate your price with the price & margin simulator.