Importing Tunisian olive oil into Poland

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

0% , but only within EU tariff quota 09.4032 and with a EUR.1 certificate. Outside the quota, the duty rises to €124.50/100 kg (≈ €1.25/L).

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 .

Q: Is a EUR.1 certificate required to import into Poland?

Yes , to benefit from the 0% duty. The EUR.1 proves 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 is sufficient.

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

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

Q: Is the Polish market promising for olive oil?

Yes: consumption is rising , driven by interest in healthy eating and the Mediterranean diet. Growth potential there is greater than in the mature markets of the South.

Q: Is the Polish market price-sensitive?

Yes , strongly. The core of the market plays out on the entry and mid-range segments in mass retail — favourable ground for the competitive raw-material cost of Tunisian oil, particularly for private label.

Q: Can you do private label (PL) in Poland?

Yes , it is a natural outlet given the price sensitivity. We supply in bulk or packaged under the retailer's label; a quality certification (such as IFS/BRCGS) may be expected by central purchasing bodies.

Q: Does organic sell in Poland?

Organic is emerging : still young but developing, with an opportunity to gain a foothold early. Our oil is available as certified organic (EU 2018/848) , traced via TRACES . See our organic olive oil.

Q: What is the most common port of entry?

Gdańsk or Gdynia on the Baltic; transit via Rotterdam or Antwerp then overland forwarding is also common.

Q: How should I approach a Polish importer or central purchasing body?

With a clear and competitive offer : landed price, MOQ, acidity tolerances, COA and sample. The market is price-driven ; position Tunisian bulk on private label and entry/mid-range.

Logistics corridor

Sfax · departurePologne

Usual entry requirements

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

In brief

Poland imports Tunisian olive oil (HS code 1509) at a 0% customs duty within EU tariff quota 09.4032, upon presentation of a EUR.1 certificate proving Tunisian origin. It is a growing market: olive oil consumption is rising, driven by the growth of the Mediterranean diet and more quality-focused eating habits. The market nevertheless remains price-sensitive, dominated by mass retail and entry/mid-range brands, with an emerging organic segment still young but promising. 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 duty rate, but access to the quota: the 56,700 t/year at 0% is shared across the entire Union and exhausted every year. Outside the quota, the duty rises to €124.50/100 kg (≈ €1.25/L), which wipes out any margin. The importer must hold an AGRIM licence to draw down the quota.

The EU quota & access to the Polish market

Under the EU-Tunisia Association Agreement, Tunisian olive oil enjoys preferential access at a 0% duty — but only within the limit of the shared tariff quota 09.4032, set at 56,700 tonnes per year for the whole European Union. This quota is shared among all Member States and is exhausted every year.

Three conditions structure access to the Polish market:

The EUR.1 certificate proves preferential Tunisian origin and is the condition for the 0% duty. The olives must have been harvested in Tunisia. Up to €6,000 per shipment, an origin declaration on the invoice is sufficient — convenient for samples.
The AGRIM licence allows the quota to be drawn down; it is held by the importer established in the EU, not by the Tunisian supplier. To be confirmed contractually before shipment.
Outside the quota, the lot switches to the full duty of €124.50/100 kg, making the operation unprofitable.

Item	Data	Note
Typical port of entry	Gdańsk (also Gdynia)	By sea; possible transit via Rotterdam/Antwerp
HS code	1509 (extra virgin, virgin, lampante)	Harmonised System structure
Customs duty	0% within EU quota 09.4032	Outside 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 down the quota	Held by the importer
Market trend	Rising consumption, price-sensitive	Emerging organic
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 the limit of quota 09.4032, shared across the EU and exhausted every year. Check that your importer holds their AGRIM licence and file the application as soon as the campaign opens.

Buying culture & expectations of Polish buyers

Poland is a young and growing market, where olive oil is gradually establishing itself in eating habits. What sets this market apart:

Consumption is rising. Long modest, olive oil consumption is increasing steadily, driven by interest in healthy eating and the Mediterranean diet. The market therefore offers growth potential greater than that of the mature markets of Southern Europe.
Price sensitivity dominates. The Polish consumer remains very price-conscious: the core of the market plays out on the entry and mid-range segments, in mass retail. This is favourable ground for the competitive raw-material cost of Tunisian oil, particularly for private label (PL) and discount/mid-range brands.
Mass retail decides. Listing goes through the retailers' central purchasing bodies (including major international discounters heavily present in Poland). The buyer thinks in terms of landed price, consistency and quality compliance (acidity, COA per lot); a quality certification such as IFS/BRCGS may be expected for private label.
Organic is emerging. The organic segment is still young but developing: an opportunity to gain a foothold early in a market where the organic premium is being built. Lots certified EU 2018/848 find nascent demand in specialty and premium distribution.
A market to build over the long term. Gaining a foothold early in a growing market allows a supply relationship to be built before competition moves in massively. An exporter who supports a Polish importer in gradually moving its offer upmarket — from conventional entry-level toward organic and mid-range — secures a lasting partnership.

The Tunisian advantage remains objective: bulk price at origin around €3.80/kg FOB, a decisive raw-material cost in a market where the decision is made on price. This cost advantage, combined with award-winning quality and organic availability, covers both the price-driven core of the market and the emerging premium segment.

Buyer side (PL importer/central purchasing): leverage the Tunisian raw-material cost gap for a competitive landed price (private label, entry/mid-range), secure the quota (AGRIM licence + EUR.1) and per-lot quality (COA + sample). Seller/exporter side: position Tunisian bulk on private label and entry/mid-range, anticipate a quality certification for private label, and gain a foothold early in the emerging organic segment.

Logistics & flows to Poland

The flow departs from Radès (Tunisia) to the Baltic ports, or transits via the major hubs of North-West Europe.

Ports of entry: Gdańsk and Gdynia (Baltic); transit via Rotterdam or Antwerp then overland forwarding is common.
Bulk formats: flexitank (20' container), IBC (1,000 L), drums — suited to local bottling and private label.
Incoterms: FOB Radès for a first order, CIF at the port of entry for a landed price (freight + insurance included). DAP/DDP reserved for trusted customers.
Organic: organic lots certified EU 2018/848 transit via TRACES.

FAQ — Importing Tunisian olive oil into Poland

What customs duty does Tunisian olive oil pay in Poland?

0%, but only within EU tariff quota 09.4032 and with a EUR.1 certificate. Outside the quota, the duty rises to €124.50/100 kg (≈ €1.25/L).

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.

Is a EUR.1 certificate required to import into Poland?

Yes, to benefit from the 0% duty. The EUR.1 proves 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 is sufficient.

What is the AGRIM licence and who must hold it?

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

Is the Polish market promising for olive oil?

Yes: consumption is rising, driven by interest in healthy eating and the Mediterranean diet. Growth potential there is greater than in the mature markets of the South.

Is the Polish market price-sensitive?

Yes, strongly. The core of the market plays out on the entry and mid-range segments in mass retail — favourable ground for the competitive raw-material cost of Tunisian oil, particularly for private label.

Can you do private label (PL) in Poland?

Yes, it is a natural outlet given the price sensitivity. We supply in bulk or packaged under the retailer's label; a quality certification (such as IFS/BRCGS) may be expected by central purchasing bodies.

Does organic sell in Poland?

Organic is emerging: still young but developing, with an opportunity to gain a foothold early. Our oil is available as certified organic (EU 2018/848), traced via TRACES. See our organic olive oil.

What is the most common port of entry?

Gdańsk or Gdynia on the Baltic; transit via Rotterdam or Antwerp then overland forwarding is also common.

How should I approach a Polish importer or central purchasing body?

With a clear and competitive offer: landed price, MOQ, acidity tolerances, COA and sample. The market is price-driven; position Tunisian bulk on private label and entry/mid-range.

Which incoterm should I choose for Poland?

For a first order, FOB Radès is the standard. CIF at the port of entry delivers a landed price (freight + insurance included). We reserve DAP/DDP for trusted customers.

What is the indicative price of Tunisian bulk oil?

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

Request your quote for Poland

Volume, format (flexitank / IBC / drum or packaged), incoterm (FOB Radès or CIF), private label or own brand, organic or conventional: tell us your requirement, and we will send you a dated quote with a reference sample and COA — plus a clear briefing on the quota and EUR.1.

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

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