The 10 largest olive oil importing countries

Q: What are the largest olive oil importing countries?

The United States is the world's leading net olive oil importer: the top non-producing market, it buys most of its consumption. Next come the European Union (including Italy, which imports massively to re-bottle), Brazil , Japan and Canada . These markets concentrate world import demand. Two import logics must be distinguished: countries

Q: What is the largest olive oil importing country?

The United States is generally the world's leading net importer: the top non-producing market, it buys most of its consumption, with strong demand for premium and organic. Italy also imports a great deal, but mainly bulk to re-bottle.

Q: Why does Italy import so much olive oil?

Italy imports massively in bulk — often Tunisian, Spanish or Greek — to re-bottle and re-export under its brands. Its production does not cover its commercial demand. It is a major outlet for Tunisian bulk oil, but as an intermediary customer.

Q: Which non-European markets import the most olive oil?

Outside Europe, the largest importers are the United States , Brazil , Japan , Canada , then China and the Gulf markets. These are non-producing countries, dependent on imports, with growing consumption.

Q: Which outlets are growing fastest?

The emerging non-producing markets: Brazil, China and the Gulf show rising demand driven by the diaspora, HORECA and still-low per-capita consumption, hence high potential. These are markets to prepare early, before the competition organises.

Q: How do you know which market to target for export?

Cross three criteria: the market's import volume , its profile (consumption vs processing) and the fit with your offer (bulk, premium, organic). Then check customs duties and regulatory requirements by destination, which weigh on landed cost — see our export markets. --- Do you want to target the right export market? Request a quote: we h

The 10 largest olive oil importing countries

Article

In brief. The world's largest olive oil importers are, by volume, the United States (leading net importer), the European Union (with Italy and Spain importing to re-export), followed by Brazil, Japan, Canada, China, the United Kingdom, Australia, Russia and the Gulf markets. Non-producing countries depend on imports for ~100%: these are the growth outlets. For a Tunisian exporter, this ranking maps out the priority markets.

Who buys olive oil around the world? Production is concentrated around the Mediterranean basin, but consumption is going global — and with it, import demand. Understanding which countries import the most helps an exporter choose target markets, and a buyer position their market on the world map. Here is the ranking, the indicative volumes and above all what each profile means on the business side.

What are the largest olive oil importing countries?

The United States is the world's leading net olive oil importer: the top non-producing market, it buys most of its consumption. Next come the European Union (including Italy, which imports massively to re-bottle), Brazil, Japan and Canada. These markets concentrate world import demand.

Two import logics must be distinguished: countries that import to consume (USA, Brazil, Japan) and those that import to process and re-export (Italy, Spain, which buy bulk oil — often Tunisian — to bottle under their brands). Both matter, but are not addressed the same way.

The ranking of the 10 largest importers

Indicative import volume benchmarks, to be confirmed against the most recent customs and IOC data.

Rank	Market	Import profile	What characterises it
1	United States	Consumption	Leading net importer, non-producer, premium and organic demand
2	Italy	Processing/re-export	Imports bulk to re-bottle under its brands
3	Brazil	Consumption	Fast-growing non-producing market
4	Japan	Consumption	Demanding on quality, packaging, consistency
5	Spain	Processing/re-export	Re-bottles and re-exports, but also a producer
6	Canada	Consumption	Non-producer, close to US standards
7	China	Consumption	Emerging market, high potential, price-sensitive
8	United Kingdom	Consumption	Outside the EU since Brexit, imports almost everything
9	Australia	Consumption	Small local production, tops up via imports
10	Russia / Gulf	Consumption	Diaspora, HORECA, rising demand

July 2026 volumes, indicative and to be re-verified with customs sources and the IOC. The ranking varies from one season to the next depending on harvests and prices.

Why non-producing countries are the real outlets

A country that does not produce olive oil depends on imports for nearly 100%. That is where the growth lies: United States, Brazil, Japan, Canada, China, Gulf. Per-capita consumption there is still low compared with the Mediterranean, which leaves enormous room to grow.

Conversely, the large European importers (Italy, Spain) mainly buy bulk to process. They are a massive outlet for Tunisian bulk oil, but they are intermediary customers, not direct consumption markets.

To frame category, variety and format according to the target market, browse our olive oils.

What the ranking changes for an exporter

Each market profile calls for a different strategy:

Bulk markets (Italy, Spain). High volume, fast cycle, tight margin. You sell flexitank there, playing on the quality-to-price ratio and supply consistency.
Premium consumption markets (USA, Japan, Canada). Strong demands on quality (COA), organic, packaging, traceability. Higher margin but regulatory barriers (FDA/FSMA in the USA, strict labelling in Japan).
Emerging markets (Brazil, China, Gulf). Rapid growth, price sensitivity, importance of the diaspora and HORECA.

Customs duties, trade agreements and documentary requirements differ by country: this is a key factor in landed cost. Our export markets pages provide the benchmarks by destination.

Insert: where to focus efforts as a priority

Bulk to Europe for volume. Italy and Spain absorb enormous quantities of Tunisian bulk oil. It is the historic outlet, fast and high-volume.
Premium consumption for margin. USA, Japan, Canada pay for quality and organic. Higher margin, but a demanding quality and regulatory file.
Emerging markets for the future. Brazil, China, Gulf: tomorrow's growth is prepared today, before the competition settles in.

The classic mistake

Targeting a market "because it imports a lot" without looking at how it imports. Positioning yourself in premium packaged oil against Italy (which buys bulk to process) is a contradiction; conversely, approaching the US market without a quality file or FDA/FSMA compliance leads to a hold-up. The right reflex: cross market volume × import profile × your offer, then cost out the landed price before committing.

FAQ

What is the largest olive oil importing country?

The United States is generally the world's leading net importer: the top non-producing market, it buys most of its consumption, with strong demand for premium and organic. Italy also imports a great deal, but mainly bulk to re-bottle.

Why does Italy import so much olive oil?

Italy imports massively in bulk — often Tunisian, Spanish or Greek — to re-bottle and re-export under its brands. Its production does not cover its commercial demand. It is a major outlet for Tunisian bulk oil, but as an intermediary customer.

Which non-European markets import the most olive oil?

Outside Europe, the largest importers are the United States, Brazil, Japan, Canada, then China and the Gulf markets. These are non-producing countries, dependent on imports, with growing consumption.

Which outlets are growing fastest?

The emerging non-producing markets: Brazil, China and the Gulf show rising demand driven by the diaspora, HORECA and still-low per-capita consumption, hence high potential. These are markets to prepare early, before the competition organises.

Should you target a large market or a niche market?

It depends on your offer. A large bulk market (Italy, Spain) suits volume and cash flow; a premium consumption market (USA, Japan) rewards quality and organic better but demands a heavier file. The right choice crosses volume, import profile and your positioning.

How do you know which market to target for export?

Cross three criteria: the market's import volume, its profile (consumption vs processing) and the fit with your offer (bulk, premium, organic). Then check customs duties and regulatory requirements by destination, which weigh on landed cost — see our export markets.

Do you want to target the right export market? Request a quote: we help you position your market, choose the category and format, and cost out the landed price, within 24-48h. First discover our olive oils and the export markets to frame your project.

Volumes and ranking July 2026, indicative and to be re-verified with customs sources and the IOC.