Importing Tunisian olive oil into Belgium

Q: What customs duty does Tunisian olive oil pay in Belgium?

0% , but only within the EU tariff quota 09.4032 and with a EUR.1 certificate. Out of quota, the duty goes to €124.50/100 kg (≈ 1.25 €/L). The 6% VAT is added.

Q: What is quota 09.4032 and why is it exhausted?

It is the EU tariff quota that allows Tunisian oil to enter the Union at 0%, within the limit of 56,700 t/year shared among all member states. It is exhausted every year , hence the importance of requesting authorisation as soon as the campaign opens.

Q: Is a EUR.1 certificate needed to import into Belgium?

Yes , to benefit from the 0% duty. The EUR.1 justifies the preferential Tunisian origin under the EU-Tunisia Association Agreement; the olives must have been harvested in Tunisia. Up to €6,000 per shipment , an invoice declaration suffices (useful for samples).

Q: What is the AGRIM licence and who must hold it?

The AGRIM licence is the import title that allows drawing against the tariff quota . It is held by the importer established in the EU, not by the Tunisian supplier — to be verified contractually before shipment.

Q: What VAT applies to olive oil in Belgium?

The 6% food VAT , generally recoverable by the taxable importer.

Q: What is the most common port of entry?

Antwerp , one of the largest ports in Europe and a major re-export hub , is the natural entry point from Radès. Zeebrugge and Ghent complete the setup.

Q: What is Tunisia's position on the Belgian market?

Tunisia is already Belgium's 5th largest supplier of olive oil. The market combines local consumption and strong re-export activity via Antwerp.

Q: Can Belgium be used as a re-export platform?

Yes : Antwerp functions largely as a redistribution platform to North-West Europe. Many Belgian buyers are traders who re-export part of the imported volumes.

Q: Does organic sell in Belgium?

Yes. Our oil is available as certified organic (EU 2018/848) , with traceability via TRACES . See our organic olive oil.

Q: How to approach a Belgian buyer or trader?

With a clear and professional offer : Antwerp landed price, MOQ, acidity tolerances, COA and reference sample. The market is oriented toward trade, price and regularity ; for the diaspora and Mediterranean grocery, add the terroir story (varieties, awards).

Logistics corridor

Sfax · departureBelgique

Usual entry requirements

Certificate of analysis (COA) per lot
Market-compliant labelling
Certificate of origin
Organic certification if claimed

In brief

Belgium imports Tunisian olive oil (HS code 1509) at a customs duty of 0% within the EU tariff quota 09.4032, provided a EUR.1 certificate justifying Tunisian origin is presented. It is a market where Tunisia is already the 5th largest supplier, structured around the Antwerp hub, one of the largest ports in Europe, with a strong dimension of re-export to the rest of the continent. The food VAT is 6% and a significant Maghrebi diaspora in Brussels and Antwerp supports loyal demand. Zitouna Export delivers in bulk (flexitank, IBC, drums) and private label, with a certificate of analysis (COA) per lot.

The real challenge is not the rate, but access to the quota: the 56,700 t/year at 0% are shared across the entire Union and exhausted every year. Out of quota, the duty jumps back to €124.50/100 kg (≈ 1.25 €/L), which wipes out any margin. The importer must hold an AGRIM licence to draw against the quota.

The EU quota & access to the Belgian market

Under the EU-Tunisia Association Agreement, Tunisian olive oil benefits from preferential access at 0% duty — but only within the common tariff quota 09.4032, set at 56,700 tonnes per year for the entire European Union. This quota is not specific to Belgium: it is shared among all member states and is exhausted every year.

Three conditions structure access to the Belgian market:

The EUR.1 certificate justifies the preferential Tunisian origin and conditions the 0% duty. The olives must have been harvested in Tunisia. Up to €6,000 per shipment, an origin declaration on the invoice suffices — handy for validation samples.
The AGRIM licence is the import title that allows drawing against the quota; it is held by the importer established in the EU, not by the Tunisian supplier. To be verified contractually before shipment.
Out of quota, the lot switches to the full duty of €124.50/100 kg, which makes the operation unprofitable. Hence the importance of filing the authorisation request as soon as the campaign opens.

Item	Data	Note
Typical port of entry	Antwerp (also Zeebrugge, Ghent)	Major logistics hub, strong re-export activity
HS code	1509 (extra virgin, virgin, lampante)	Harmonized System structure
Customs duty	0% within the EU quota 09.4032	Out of quota: €124.50/100 kg
Preferential document	EUR.1 (or invoice declaration ≤ €6,000)	Tunisian origin = olives harvested in Tunisia
Quota	56,700 t/year for the whole EU, exhausted every year	Shared among member states
Importer licence	AGRIM to draw against the quota	Held by the importer
VAT	6%	Reduced food rate
Organic certification	EU 2018/848 + TRACES	For certified organic lots

The quota is the real constraint, not the duty. The duty is zero, but only within quota 09.4032, shared across the EU and exhausted every year. Check that your Belgian importer holds their AGRIM licence and file the request as soon as the campaign opens.

Buying culture & Belgian buyers' expectations

Belgium is an open, logistics-driven and trade-oriented market, where Tunisia already holds a solid position as the 5th largest supplier. What sets this market apart:

Antwerp, gateway and re-export hub. The port of Antwerp is one of the largest in Europe and functions largely as a redistribution platform: a significant share of the oil landed there is re-exported to other European countries. Many Belgian buyers are therefore traders and importer-distributors who reason in volume, landed price and turnover, rather than retail brand.
A bilingual and professional market. The Belgian buyer — trader, importer, purchasing centre — expects a clear offer: Antwerp landed price, MOQ, acidity tolerances, COA per lot. The relationship quickly becomes professional around the spec sheet and the contract.
The Maghrebi diaspora, a loyal outlet. Brussels and Antwerp have a significant Maghrebi community that supports steady demand in Mediterranean grocery stores, markets and community networks. This channel values the taste of origin, the Chemlali/Chetoui varieties and the Tunisian story — an outlet less price-driven than conventional retail.
Price and regularity come first in the trade channel. As everywhere in Northern Europe, failing on a lot or delaying a delivery loses you the listing. Secure your volume and your schedule before committing.
Organic has its place. Belgian demand for organic olive oil is growing, notably via specialised retail and the urban circuits of Brussels and Ghent. Lots certified EU 2018/848 (traced via TRACES) meet this expectation and also feed the re-export to the Nordic and German markets, which are very demanding in organic. Positioning an organic offer from the first contact opens a more lucrative outlet than pure conventional.

The Tunisian advantage remains objective: bulk origin price around 3.80 €/kg FOB, a competitive raw-material cost on a trade market where the difference of a cent is decisive. Compared to Iberian and Italian origins, Tunisian oil offers a quality-price ratio that appeals both to volume trading and to the diaspora circuit attached to the taste of origin — a rare dual positioning on a single market.

Buyer side (BE importer/trader): rely on the Tunisian raw-material cost gap for your Antwerp landed price, secure the quota (AGRIM licence + EUR.1) and quality per lot (COA + reference sample). Seller/exporter side: prepare a clear offer (Antwerp landed price, MOQ, tolerances), position yourself in the re-export/trade channel, and play the terroir on the diaspora circuit.

Logistics & flows to Belgium

The natural flow leaves Radès (Tunisia) for Antwerp by sea. Antwerp offers exceptional connectivity to the whole of North-West Europe, which makes it the logical entry point for an exporter targeting both the Belgian market and intra-EU re-export.

Ports of entry: Antwerp as a priority, Zeebrugge and Ghent as secondary.
Bulk formats: flexitank (20' container), IBC (1,000 L), drums — depending on your logistics scheme and your buyer.
Incoterms: FOB Radès for a first order (you control the freight up to loading), CIF Antwerp for a landed port price (freight + insurance included). DAP/DDP reserved for trusted clients.
Organic: certified organic lots EU 2018/848 transit via TRACES (the EU's sanitary and organic traceability system).

FAQ — Importing Tunisian olive oil into Belgium

What customs duty does Tunisian olive oil pay in Belgium?

0%, but only within the EU tariff quota 09.4032 and with a EUR.1 certificate. Out of quota, the duty goes to €124.50/100 kg (≈ 1.25 €/L). The 6% VAT is added.

What is quota 09.4032 and why is it exhausted?

It is the EU tariff quota that allows Tunisian oil to enter the Union at 0%, within the limit of 56,700 t/year shared among all member states. It is exhausted every year, hence the importance of requesting authorisation as soon as the campaign opens.

Is a EUR.1 certificate needed to import into Belgium?

Yes, to benefit from the 0% duty. The EUR.1 justifies the preferential Tunisian origin under the EU-Tunisia Association Agreement; the olives must have been harvested in Tunisia. Up to €6,000 per shipment, an invoice declaration suffices (useful for samples).

What is the AGRIM licence and who must hold it?

The AGRIM licence is the import title that allows drawing against the tariff quota. It is held by the importer established in the EU, not by the Tunisian supplier — to be verified contractually before shipment.

What VAT applies to olive oil in Belgium?

The 6% food VAT, generally recoverable by the taxable importer.

What is the most common port of entry?

Antwerp, one of the largest ports in Europe and a major re-export hub, is the natural entry point from Radès. Zeebrugge and Ghent complete the setup.

What is Tunisia's position on the Belgian market?

Tunisia is already Belgium's 5th largest supplier of olive oil. The market combines local consumption and strong re-export activity via Antwerp.

Can Belgium be used as a re-export platform?

Yes: Antwerp functions largely as a redistribution platform to North-West Europe. Many Belgian buyers are traders who re-export part of the imported volumes.

Does organic sell in Belgium?

Yes. Our oil is available as certified organic (EU 2018/848), with traceability via TRACES. See our organic olive oil.

How to approach a Belgian buyer or trader?

With a clear and professional offer: Antwerp landed price, MOQ, acidity tolerances, COA and reference sample. The market is oriented toward trade, price and regularity; for the diaspora and Mediterranean grocery, add the terroir story (varieties, awards).

Which incoterm to choose for Belgium?

For a first order, FOB Radès is the standard: you control the freight up to loading. CIF Antwerp delivers a landed port price (freight + insurance included). We reserve DAP/DDP for trusted clients.

What is the indicative price of bulk Tunisian oil?

From ~3.80 €/kg FOB Radès, depending on the category (extra virgin, virgin), volume, format and vintage.

Request your quote for Belgium

Volume, format (flexitank / IBC / drum or packaged), incoterm (FOB Radès or CIF Antwerp), private label or own brand, organic or conventional: give us your requirement, and we'll send you a dated quotation with a reference sample and COA — and a clear note on the quota and the EUR.1.

Request a free quote — drawer pre-filled with "Destination: Belgium".

See also: export markets hub · France market · organic olive oil.