Exporting Tunisian olive oil to Mexico

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

The oil enters under the general-law regime, at the most-favoured-nation (MFN) rate — . No known Tunisia–Mexico preferential agreement applies to date.

Q: Is there a preferential agreement between Tunisia and Mexico?

No known preferential agreement applies to date. Tunisian olive oil therefore enters at the general-law MFN rate.

Q: Is the Mexican market promising for olive oil?

Yes: it's an emerging, growing market , with rising consumption driven by urbanisation, the middle class and interest in health food. The potential is real, even if the market remains smaller than mature markets.

Q: Who is the main competitor on the Mexican market?

Spain , the historical supplier and price benchmark, as well as emerging Latin American producers (Argentina, Chile). The Tunisian asset is value for money and supply regularity.

Q: What tax applies to imports into Mexico?

The IVA (value-added tax) applies on importation; its rate and recoverability by the importer are.

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

Under HS code 1509 : 1509.20 (extra virgin), 1509.30 (virgin), 1509.40 (other virgin oils), according to the Mexican nomenclature.

Q: What is the most common port of entry?

Veracruz (Gulf of Mexico) is a natural entry point from the Mediterranean; Manzanillo serves the Pacific coast. Transit from Radès is to be confirmed with the freight forwarder .

Q: In what language should you work and label?

In Spanish : the commercial relationship and labelling (compliant with Mexican official standards NOM) are done in Spanish. Prepare specs and samples accordingly.

Q: Can you do private label in Mexico?

Yes. Part of the demand goes through local bottlers and distributors who buy in bulk to package under their brands. We supply in bulk or packaged under a compliant Spanish label.

Logistics corridor

Sfax · departureMexique

Usual entry requirements

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

How to export Tunisian olive oil to Mexico?

To export Tunisian olive oil to Mexico, your oil enters under HS code 1509, via a port such as Veracruz. Mexico is an emerging, growing market: olive oil consumption is rising there, driven by urbanisation, health cooking and an expanding middle class. No known preferential agreement between Tunisia and Mexico applies to date: the oil enters under the general-law regime, at the **most-favoured-nation (MFN) rate.

The main competition on this market comes from Spain, historically well established, as well as from emerging Latin American producers (Argentina, Chile). The Tunisian asset is the price at origin and quality documented per batch. Zitouna Export supplies in bulk (flexitank, IBC, drums) and in private label, with a certificate of analysis (COA) per batch.

Import data — Mexico (olive oil)

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

Item	Data	Note
Typical port of entry	Veracruz (Gulf of Mexico), Manzanillo (Pacific)	Sea route, transit to be confirmed with the freight forwarder
HS code	1509.20 (extra virgin), 1509.30 (virgin), 1509.40 (other virgin oils)	2022 HS revision structure
Customs duty	MFN rate to be verified	No known Tunisia–Mexico preferential agreement
TN preferential agreement	No known preferential agreement	General-law regime
Domestic tax	IVA (value-added tax) on import	Rate and recoverability
Origin document	Certificate of origin under general law	Required at customs clearance
Main competition	Spain (leader), Argentina, Chile	Tunisian price positioning to leverage
Dynamic	Emerging, growing market, rising consumption	Premium and health segment promising

A market to build. Mexico is not yet a large olive oil market, but an emerging, growing market: rising consumption, urbanisation, health interest. Access is not preferential, but the opportunity is real for a competitive and regular supplier.

Estimate your landed cost with our simulator and validate the applicable duty rate with your importer before any commitment.

Customs & regulatory access

Olive oil imported into Mexico falls under Mexican customs regulation and the official standards (NOM) applicable to food products. Points to note:

No known Tunisia–Mexico preferential agreement applies to date: olive oil enters under the general-law regime, at the **MFN rate, to be confirmed before quotation **.
A certificate of origin under general law is required at customs clearance.
The IVA (value-added tax) applies on importation; its rate and recoverability by the importer are.
Labelling in Spanish compliant with Mexican official standards (NOM): product name, category, net quantity in metric units, importer, country of origin, nutritional information. The precise requirements are and are generally handled by the importer.

To be verified systematically. The MFN duty rate, the IVA and the NOM labelling requirements must be confirmed with your Mexican importer and a specialised freight forwarder before shipping.

Required documents & certificates

The documentary file for import into Mexico combines standard commercial documents and local sanitary requirements. Plan at minimum for:

Commercial invoice + packing list, detailed.
Bill of lading (B/L) for sea freight.
Certificate of origin under general law (no preferential agreement to mobilise).
Certificate of analysis (COA) per batch, IOC-accredited laboratory — mandatory for Tunisian export and reassuring for the Mexican importer.
Phytosanitary certificate according to the requirements in force.
Labelling compliant with Mexican official standards (NOM), in Spanish, with nutritional information, exact category, net metric quantity, importer and country of origin.

The precise requirements (applicable NOM, importer registration, any sanitary notification) are and generally fall to the importer. The Tunisian supplier provides a clean quality file to facilitate registration and customs clearance.

A complete COA and a clearly displayed category ("aceite de oliva virgen extra") smooth customs clearance and reassure a Mexican importer discovering Tunisian origin.

Buying culture & expectations of Mexican buyers

The Mexican olive oil market is an emerging market where olive oil remains an aspirational and premium product. What sets this market apart:

Rising consumption. Olive oil is gaining ground in the big cities (Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey), driven by the urban middle class, health cooking and Mediterranean influence. The growth potential is real.
Spain dominates — but there's room. Spain is the historical supplier and the price benchmark. A Tunisian exporter positions itself on value for money and supply regularity, particularly for local bottling and private label.
The working language is Spanish. The commercial relationship and labelling are done in Spanish: prepare your specs and samples accordingly.
Private label and bulk have a role. Part of the demand goes through local bottlers and distributors who buy in bulk to package under their own brands: it's a natural outlet for a competitive Tunisian supplier.

Buyer side (MX importer): check the MFN rate and the IVA, secure quality per batch (COA + sample), and confirm the NOM labelling before shipping. Seller/exporter side: play on value for money against Spain, target bottlers and private label, and work in Spanish. Do not quote firm before verifying the applicable duty.

Logistics

Sea route: from Radès, the oil typically transits to Veracruz (Gulf of Mexico) or Manzanillo (Pacific), in bulk (flexitank, IBC) or packaged. The transatlantic transit and connections are to be confirmed with the freight forwarder.
Incoterm: for a first flow of business, FOB Radès is the standard (you control the freight up to loading). CIF delivers a landed port price. We reserve DAP/DDP for established relationships.
Tunisia price: our extra virgin olive oil in bulk sits at around €3.80/kg FOB Radès at the bottom of the range, a competitive positioning against Spanish origin on a price-sensitive market.

FAQ — Exporting Tunisian olive oil to Mexico

What customs duty does Tunisian olive oil pay in Mexico?

The oil enters under the general-law regime, at the most-favoured-nation (MFN) rate — **. No known Tunisia–Mexico preferential agreement applies to date.

Is there a preferential agreement between Tunisia and Mexico?

No known preferential agreement applies to date. Tunisian olive oil therefore enters at the general-law MFN rate.

Is the Mexican market promising for olive oil?

Yes: it's an emerging, growing market, with rising consumption driven by urbanisation, the middle class and interest in health food. The potential is real, even if the market remains smaller than mature markets.

Who is the main competitor on the Mexican market?

Spain, the historical supplier and price benchmark, as well as emerging Latin American producers (Argentina, Chile). The Tunisian asset is value for money and supply regularity.

What tax applies to imports into Mexico?

The IVA (value-added tax) applies on importation; its rate and recoverability by the importer are.

Under which customs code is olive oil classified in Mexico?

Under HS code 1509: 1509.20 (extra virgin), 1509.30 (virgin), 1509.40 (other virgin oils), according to the Mexican nomenclature.

What is the most common port of entry?

Veracruz (Gulf of Mexico) is a natural entry point from the Mediterranean; Manzanillo serves the Pacific coast. Transit from Radès is to be confirmed with the freight forwarder.

In what language should you work and label?

In Spanish: the commercial relationship and labelling (compliant with Mexican official standards NOM) are done in Spanish. Prepare specs and samples accordingly.

Can you do private label in Mexico?

Yes. Part of the demand goes through local bottlers and distributors who buy in bulk to package under their brands. We supply in bulk or packaged under a compliant Spanish label.

Which incoterm to choose for Mexico?

For a first order, FOB Radès is the standard: you control the freight up to loading. CIF delivers a landed port price. We reserve DAP/DDP for established relationships.

How to approach a Mexican importer?

In Spanish, with a clean file (spec sheet, COA, reference sample) and clear positioning on value for money. Target bottlers and private label, and bet on regularity to build loyalty on a market under construction.

Request your quotation for Mexico

Volume, format (flexitank / IBC / drum or packaged), incoterm (FOB Radès recommended), private label or own brand, organic or conventional: give us your requirement, we send you a dated quotation with a reference sample and a COA. The applicable duty rate and the IVA are **.

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

See also: export markets hub · request a quote.