How to Track Olive Oil Prices

In brief. Tracking olive oil prices means cross-referencing several reliable sources — official bodies (IOC, national observatories), reference markets by origin (Spain/Jaén, Italy/Bari, Tunisia), and production/campaign data — then reading them in the light of seasonality (harvest, lean season, EU quota). No single price is authoritative: the relevant price is that of a dated quotation by origin, category, format and incoterm.

The price of olive oil moves constantly: harvest, weather, stocks, exchange rate, demand. For an importer or a brand builder, knowing where to look and how to interpret these prices avoids buying at the peak. Here is a structured monitoring method. (To understand what causes the price to vary, see bulk price factors; for the right timing of a purchase, see when to buy.)

Where to find olive oil prices?

There is no single official "world price" for olive oil as there is for oil. You track a cluster of sources:

1. The International Olive Council (IOC) — data on production, consumption, trade and indicative prices by origin. The global institutional reference.
2. National observatories — in Tunisia, the ONH (National Oil Office), ONAGRI and CEPEX publish production, exports and average prices. Every producing country has its equivalent.
3. Reference markets by origin — quotations of Spanish origin (Jaén basin), Italian (Bari) or Greek serve as barometers followed by the whole industry.
4. The press and specialised portals — several sector media relay price trends and campaign analyses.
5. Your supplier — in the end, the only data that commits you is the dated quotation they give you, by category, format and incoterm.

Our price observatory synthesises these benchmarks by origin, and our origins comparison puts them in perspective.

Cross-referencing sources: why it's essential

A single figure is never enough. A "Tunisia price" without a category (extra virgin? virgin?), without a format (bulk flexitank? packaged?) or incoterm (EXW, FOB, CIF?) means nothing. Cross-referencing sources allows you to:

• Distinguish origin price and delivered price — the bulk origin price includes neither freight, nor insurance, nor duties.
• Spot the gaps between origins — Italy quotes higher and often re-exports oil of other origins; understanding these flows sharpens your reading.
• Detect campaign signals — a record harvest or an announced drought moves prices even before they officially shift.

Reading seasonality: the price calendar

Olive oil prices follow an annual cycle paced by the olive campaign:

Period (Northern hemisphere)	Phase	Typical effect on prices
Oct.–Jan.	Harvest / milling	New supply, visibility on the volume
Feb.–May	Post-harvest	Prices stabilising according to the actual harvest
June–Sept.	Lean season (before next harvest)	Low stocks, possible price tension

Added to this cycle, for Tunisian export to the EU, is the 0% tariff quota (TRQ contingent) which fills up every year: certificates are filed early, on pain of incurring a high out-of-quota duty. Seasonality is therefore read not only in price, but also in administrative availability.

Building your own monitoring in 5 steps

1. Choose 3-4 stable sources (IOC, a national observatory, a reference market, your supplier) and stick to them.
2. Systematically note the date of each price recorded — a price without a date is unusable.
3. Compare on a constant basis — always the same category, format and incoterm from one reading to the next.
4. Follow campaign news — harvest bulletins, weather alerts, monthly export figures.
5. Request real quotations regularly — it is the only way to know the price that really concerns you, not a theoretical index.

The mistake to avoid

Relying on an isolated, undated figure seen online, then negotiating or budgeting on it. Prices evolve quickly and by scope: a bulk origin price is not a delivered price; last year's price is no longer valid. The golden rule of monitoring: always date, always specify the scope, always re-check before committing a container.

FAQ — Tracking olive oil prices

Where can I see the olive oil price in real time?

There is no single real-time world price. You track a cluster of sources: the IOC (global data), national observatories (ONH/ONAGRI/CEPEX in Tunisia), reference markets by origin, and above all the dated quotations from your supplier, by category and incoterm.

What is the price of bulk Tunisian olive oil?

As a July 2026 benchmark, bulk Tunisian olive oil starts around €3.80/kg at origin (organic slightly above), to be verified. This price includes neither freight, nor insurance, nor duties: the delivered price depends on the incoterm and the destination market.

Why do olive oil prices vary so much?

Harvest (volume, weather), carryover stocks, world demand, exchange rate and category/quality move prices. Seasonality also plays a role: prices tend to tighten in the lean season (summer), before the new harvest. See what makes the bulk price vary.

When are prices lowest?

Often after a good harvest, when the new supply arrives (end of year to early spring depending on the origin). Conversely, the summer lean season, with low stocks, tightens prices. But each campaign is different: a weak harvest reverses this pattern. See when to buy.

Does the Spanish price influence the Tunisian price?

Yes, indirectly. Spain is the world's leading producer and a reference market; its quotations influence the whole industry. Italy, for its part, quotes higher and often re-exports oil of other origins. Following these markets helps interpret the level of Tunisian prices.

How do I get a reliable price for my project?

By requesting a dated quotation specifying category (extra virgin…), format (flexitank, IBC, packaged), volume and incoterm (FOB, CIF…). Only this quotation commits you. Public indices serve to gauge the market, not to contract.

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Want a reliable, up-to-date price benchmark? Request a quote: indicate category, volume, format and incoterm, and we respond within 24-48h with a dated quotation and a reference sample with its COA. Also follow our price observatory and our origins comparison to gauge the market.