Exporting Tunisian olive oil to Kuwait

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

The GCC common external tariff is 5% , but it drops to 0% under GAFTA upon presentation of an Arab certificate of origin .

Q: What is the Arab certificate of origin and why is it crucial?

It's the document that proves Tunisian origin under the Greater Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA) and makes the duty go from 5% to 0% . It gives Tunisia a 5-point advantage over European origins. It's the most profitable document in the file.

Q: Is halal mandatory to export olive oil to Kuwait?

No. Kuwait exempts Muslim countries from the halal requirement: as a Tunisian product, your oil is not subject to it. Moreover, halal is not required for a 100% vegetable oil. Do not print it by default — have the importer confirm in writing.

Q: What is the PAFN?

The PAFN (Public Authority for Food and Nutrition) is the authority with which the product and the label must be registered before importation . This registration is borne by the importer .

Q: Is the Arabic label mandatory in Kuwait?

Yes , the Arabic label is mandatory.

Q: Is a sanitary certificate needed for Kuwait?

Yes. A sanitary certificate stating quantity, weight, description and "fit for human consumption" is part of the file, alongside the Arab certificate of origin and the COA per batch.

Q: Under which customs code is olive oil classified in Kuwait?

Under HS code 1509 : 1509.20 (extra virgin), 1509.30 (virgin), 1509.40 (other virgin oils). The 0% GAFTA duty applies upon presentation of the Arab certificate of origin.

Q: Does the Kuwaiti market value premium?

Yes. Kuwait is a high-purchasing-power market that values quality, origin and packaging. The Tunisian terroir story and international awards find a favourable echo there.

Q: How to approach a Kuwaiti buyer?

Through relationship before transaction : contact via WhatsApp , sending samples to taste and analyse, patience and responsiveness, and ideally a meeting at Gulfood . Premium is accepted: play on quality, origin and the terroir story.

Logistics corridor

Sfax · departureKoweit

Usual entry requirements

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

In brief

Kuwait is a Gulf market with high purchasing power, a net importer of olive oil and receptive to Mediterranean premium. Your oil enters under HS code 1509. The GCC duty is 5%, but it drops to 0% under the Greater Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA) upon presentation of an Arab certificate of origin — the most profitable document in the file, and a clear advantage over European origins that pay the full tariff.

Two points characterise the Kuwaiti market: product registration falls under the PAFN (Public Authority for Food and Nutrition), borne by the importer, with a mandatory label in Arabic; and above all, Tunisia, as a Muslim country, is exempted from the halal requirement — a welcome documentary relief. As everywhere in the Gulf, halal must in any case not be printed by default on a 100% vegetable oil. Zitouna Export supplies in bulk (flexitank, IBC, drums) and in private label, with a COA per batch compliant with IOC standards.

Customs & regulatory access

Figures dated July 2026, to be re-verified before any firm quotation.

Item	Kuwait
Customs code	HS 1509 (1509.20 extra virgin)
Typical port of entry	Shuwaikh / Shuaiba
GCC duty (outside GAFTA)	5%
Duty with GAFTA	0%
Preferential document	Arab certificate of origin
Product registration	PAFN (importer)
Labelling	Arabic mandatory
Halal	Not required — Tunisia (Muslim country) exempted

The Arab certificate of origin is worth 5 points of duty. Without it, your oil pays the GCC common external tariff (5%). With it, it enters at zero duty under GAFTA. It's the most profitable document in the whole file.

The Kuwaiti documentary file is formalistic, in line with the Gulf. Non-negotiable points:

Commercial invoice + packing list
Bill of lading (B/L) for sea freight
Arab certificate of origin — key to the 0% GAFTA duty
Sanitary certificate stating quantity, weight, description and "fit for human consumption"
Certificate of analysis (COA) per batch, IOC-accredited laboratory (mandatory for Tunisian export) — the analysis must justify the "extra virgin" claim
Product registration + label with the PAFN, borne by the importer, before importation
Organic certificate: only if the claim appears on the label

Halal & labelling

Arabic mandatory on the label.
Halal: Tunisian exemption. Kuwait exempts Muslim countries from the halal requirement; as a product of Tunisian origin, your oil is therefore not subject to this constraint. Moreover, halal is not required in any case for a 100% vegetable olive oil: do not print it by default and have the importer confirm in writing before any mention.
Label / analysis consistency. Any parameter or additive not declared but detected in the laboratory exposes the cargo to rejection.

Local demand & market size

Kuwait is a net importer (zero olive production) and a premium market with high purchasing power, driven by an affluent population, a community of Mediterranean expatriates and rising health consumption. Smaller in volume than Saudi Arabia, it shares the Gulf fundamentals: the high price is accepted as long as quality, origin and packaging follow.

The Tunisian advantage remains objective: bulk price at origin around €3.80/kg FOB, well below European origins, with a terroir story (Chemlali/Chetoui varieties, arid climate) that is appreciated. The Arab certificate of origin offers on top a 5-point duty differential over European origins, and the halal exemption specific to Muslim countries simplifies the file — two concrete assets for a Tunisian exporter.

Buying culture & expectations of Kuwaiti buyers

The Kuwaiti market is relational before being transactional: you don't sell a container there by cold e-mail, you build a relationship. What sets this market apart:

Relationship first. Trust precedes the order. A reliable and available contact opens the door — but it takes patience.
WhatsApp is the working channel. Negotiation, follow-up on samples and orders largely go through WhatsApp, live and responsive.
Samples are essential. The buyer wants to taste and have analysed before committing. Provide well-prepared reference samples.
Gulfood is the meeting point. The Gulfood trade fair in Dubai is the Gulf's major contact point: many Kuwaiti importers source there.
Premium is accepted. Kuwait does not seek the price floor: it values quality, origin, awards and careful packaging. The Tunisian terroir story sells, provided the regulatory file (Arabic label, Arab certificate of origin, consistent COA) is impeccable.
Documentary formalism is a test. A clean file (Arab certificate of origin, consistent COA, PAFN registration) reassures the importer as much as the product does. A rejection at the port burns the relationship.

Buyer side (KW importer/distributor): secure the Arab certificate of origin for the 0% duty, require a COA consistent with the label, and validate the PAFN registration before shipping. Seller/exporter side: invest in the relationship (WhatsApp, samples, Gulfood), take care of the origin story and packaging, and master the regulatory file (Arab origin, Arabic label) — the halal exemption makes your life easier, take advantage of it.

Organic insert — a premium within the premium

Kuwait is receptive to the premium, and organic reinforces high-end positioning. Our oil is available in organic certified Ecocert (EU 2018/848). Note: the organic certificate is only useful for customs clearance if the organic claim appears on the label. The Tunisian terroir — arid climate, low pest pressure — is naturally suited to organic, a strong storytelling argument on a market sensitive to origin.

See our organic olive oil in bulk.

Logistics & incoterms

The reference ports are Shuwaikh and Shuaiba, connected to Radès. For a first order, FOB Radès is the standard: you control the freight up to loading, the importer takes over. CIF Shuwaikh delivers a landed port price.

Available formats: flexitank (approx. 22–24 t, the most economical per kilo), IBC (1,000 L), drums, or packaged under a compliant Arabic label. The size of the market may justify modulated volumes (full container or groupage depending on the importer).

FAQ — Exporting Tunisian olive oil to Kuwait

What customs duty does Tunisian olive oil pay in Kuwait?

The GCC common external tariff is 5%, but it drops to 0% under GAFTA upon presentation of an Arab certificate of origin.

What is the Arab certificate of origin and why is it crucial?

It's the document that proves Tunisian origin under the Greater Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA) and makes the duty go from 5% to 0%. It gives Tunisia a 5-point advantage over European origins. It's the most profitable document in the file.

Is halal mandatory to export olive oil to Kuwait?

No. Kuwait exempts Muslim countries from the halal requirement: as a Tunisian product, your oil is not subject to it. Moreover, halal is not required for a 100% vegetable oil. Do not print it by default — have the importer confirm in writing.

What is the PAFN?

The PAFN (Public Authority for Food and Nutrition) is the authority with which the product and the label must be registered before importation. This registration is borne by the importer.

Is the Arabic label mandatory in Kuwait?

Yes, the Arabic label is mandatory.

Does Kuwait apply VAT on olive oil?

The VAT status in Kuwait is to be confirmed before quotation. Check it with your importer to include it, if applicable, in the landed price.

Is a sanitary certificate needed for Kuwait?

Yes. A sanitary certificate stating quantity, weight, description and "fit for human consumption" is part of the file, alongside the Arab certificate of origin and the COA per batch.

Under which customs code is olive oil classified in Kuwait?

Under HS code 1509: 1509.20 (extra virgin), 1509.30 (virgin), 1509.40 (other virgin oils). The 0% GAFTA duty applies upon presentation of the Arab certificate of origin.

Does the Kuwaiti market value premium?

Yes. Kuwait is a high-purchasing-power market that values quality, origin and packaging. The Tunisian terroir story and international awards find a favourable echo there.

How to approach a Kuwaiti buyer?

Through relationship before transaction: contact via WhatsApp, sending samples to taste and analyse, patience and responsiveness, and ideally a meeting at Gulfood. Premium is accepted: play on quality, origin and the terroir story.

Can you do private label in Kuwait?

Yes. We supply in bulk or packaged under a compliant Arabic label, with PAFN registration borne by the importer. The premium market is receptive to brands with a strong origin story.

Which incoterm to choose for Kuwait?

For a first order, FOB Radès is the standard. CIF Shuwaikh delivers a landed port price. The size of the market may justify modulated volumes depending on the importer.

Request your quotation for Kuwait

Volume, format (flexitank / IBC / drum or packaged), incoterm (FOB Radès or CIF Shuwaikh), private label or own brand, organic or conventional: give us your requirement, we send you a dated quotation with a reference sample, a COA and a clear note on the Arab certificate of origin, PAFN registration and Arabic label.

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

See also: export markets hub · request a quote · Gulf market.