Importing Bulk Olive Oil: Where to Start

In brief. To start importing bulk olive oil: (1) define your need (category, volume, format), (2) choose a reliable origin and exporter, (3) request a sample + COA, (4) set the incoterm (FOB or CIF to begin), (5) calculate the landed cost to your market, (6) gather the documents (invoice, packing list, B/L, certificate of origin) and (7) secure payment. A first flexitank or a few IBCs are enough to start without over-committing your cash flow.

You want to import bulk olive oil but don't know where to start? It's the most common starting point among new B2B buyers. Good news: the process is well marked out. This guide gives the concrete steps, in order, to go from idea to first order without a misstep.

Where do you start to import bulk olive oil?

Start by precisely defining your need — category (extra virgin, virgin, organic), volume, packaging format and destination market — before even contacting a supplier. This scoping determines the origin, price, incoterm and required certifications. Without it, you compare offers that aren't comparable and you waste time.

Once the need is clear, the rest follows logically: origin selection, sample and COA request, incoterm choice, landed cost calculation, then securing payment and logistics.

The 7 steps to get started

1. Frame the need. Category, volume, format (flexitank, IBC, drum), target market. This brief guides everything else.
2. Choose the origin. Compare the value for money of origins (Tunisia, Spain, Italy, Greece, Morocco…). Our olive oils detail categories and varieties to help you find your bearings.
3. Vet the exporter. Origin approval, seniority, references, ability to provide a COA per lot. Supplier reliability is worth as much as price.
4. Request a sample and a COA. Taste it, have it analysed, keep a reference sample. Set the category on data, not on a sales promise.
5. Choose the incoterm. For a first import, FOB (you manage the freight) or CIF (price to port). Avoid DDP as long as the relationship is not proven.
6. Calculate the landed cost. Origin price + packaging + freight + insurance + duties + your market's VAT. Consult the export markets for benchmarks by destination.
7. Secure payment and logistics. Deposit, balance against documents or confirmed letter of credit; freight forwarder for shipping.

What minimum volume to start (MOQ)?

The minimum order quantity depends on the format. To start without over-committing your cash flow, several options exist, from the most economical to the most flexible:

Format	Indicative capacity	Per 20' container	Ideal for
Flexitank	~22,000 L	1	Lowest cost/tonne
IBC	1,000 L	~20	Intermediate volume, test
Drum	200 / 216 L	~40	Small volumes, trial

A first import can be limited to a few IBCs or drums to validate quality, channel and logistics, before moving to a flexitank or a full container. The cost per litre is a little higher on small formats, but risk is reduced.

Which documents to import in bulk?

A bulk olive oil import comes with a standard set of documents, to gather with the exporter and your freight forwarder:

• Proforma invoice then commercial invoice.
• Packing list (packaging, gross/net weight).
• Bill of lading (B/L) or waybill.
• Certificate of origin.
• Health / phytosanitary certificate according to local requirements.
• COA (certificate of analysis) per lot.

A document or labelling error can block the goods at customs. Check your market's precise requirements in advance: our export markets pages give the benchmarks by destination.

Box: the 3 beginner reflexes

• Start small, but well. A first well-calibrated IBC or flexitank beats a poorly managed container. Test the channel before scaling.
• Never order without a sample or COA. Category and freshness are verified, not assumed.
• Cost the landed cost, not the origin price. The only honest comparison is made delivered to destination, incoterm and duties included.

The classic mistake

Wanting to move too fast: ordering a large volume on the very first import, without a validated sample, without a clear incoterm and without having costed your market's duties. Frequent result: goods on the quay pricier than expected, or a category that doesn't match the sales channel. Better a modest, secured and documented first order that paves the way for larger volumes later.

FAQ

How much does it cost to start importing bulk olive oil?

The budget depends on volume and format. The raw material starts around ~3.80 €/kg FOB for Tunisia, to which are added packaging, freight, insurance and duties. An IBC or a few drums allow a first import on a contained budget.

What is the minimum volume for a first import?

There is no universal rule: it ranges from a few drums (200/216 L) to a full flexitank (~22,000 L). To begin, an IBC (1,000 L) or a few drums are enough to test quality and channel before moving to larger volumes.

Do you need a sample before ordering in bulk?

Yes, always. A sample lets you taste, have it analysed and keep a reference. Combined with the lot's COA, it sets the category on facts and protects you in the event of a dispute on arrival.

FOB or CIF for a first import?

Both work to begin. In FOB, you control the freight and can compare forwarders; in CIF, the exporter delivers a price to port, simpler to manage. Avoid DDP as long as the relationship is not proven.

Which documents should I prepare?

Commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading (B/L), certificate of origin, health/phytosanitary certificate depending on the market, and a COA per lot. Check your import country's precise requirements, as a documentary error can block the goods.

How do you secure payment for a first import?

Favour a deposit followed by the balance against documents, or a confirmed letter of credit. This structure protects both parties and lays the foundations for a lasting relationship. Avoid full advance payment to an unproven supplier.

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Starting your first import? Request a quote: we support you step by step — sample, COA, format, incoterm and landed cost to your market, within 24-48h. First discover our olive oils and the export markets to frame your project.