Importing Tunisian olive oil into Portugal

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

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 Portugal?

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 Portugal an interesting market even though it produces its own oil?

Yes, but differently: it is a producer country (Alentejo). Tunisian oil comes in as a bulk sourcing complement for bottlers and traders, especially in years of poor local harvest, rather than as a retail brand.

Q: Can a Tunisian brand be sold in Portugal?

It is difficult : the shelf is dominated by local brands and the consumer is attached to national production. The realistic outlet is B2B bulk to industrial users and traders, not the retail brand.

Q: What is the most common port of entry?

Lisbon , with Setúbal and Leixões (Porto) as complements, is the natural entry point from Radès.

Q: Against whom is Tunisian oil competing in Portugal?

Directly against local production (Alentejo) and Spanish oil. The arbitrage is made on landed price, availability and quality compliance .

Q: Does organic sell in Portugal?

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

Q: How should I approach a Portuguese bottler or trader?

With a clear and competitive offer : landed price at Lisbon, MOQ, acidity tolerances, COA and sample. Position Tunisian bulk as a sourcing complement against local and Iberian production.

Logistics corridor

Sfax · departurePortugal

Usual entry requirements

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

In brief

Portugal 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. A distinctive feature of this market: Portugal is itself an olive oil producer country, notably in the Alentejo region, which is growing strongly. It is therefore a bulk-trade market where Tunisian oil mainly comes in as a blend, a supply complement or for repackaging, with little room for a foreign brand facing direct competition from local producers. 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 Portuguese 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 Portuguese 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	Lisbon (also Setúbal, Leixões)	By sea from Radès
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 specificity	Producer country (Alentejo)	Direct local competition
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 Portuguese buyers

Portugal is a special case: it is a trade market within a producer country. What sets this market apart:

Portugal produces its own oil. National production, driven by the Alentejo region, is growing strongly and makes the country an exporter. Tunisian oil therefore does not arrive there to compete with local brands on the shelf, but to serve as a supply complement, blending raw material or repackaging for bottlers and traders.
Little room for a foreign brand. The Portuguese consumer is attached to local production and the shelf is dominated by national brands. Targeting a Tunisian retail brand is difficult; the realistic outlet is B2B bulk to industrial users and traders.
Direct competition and price arbitrage. Portuguese buyers — bottlers, traders — compare Tunisian oil directly with local and Spanish production. The decision hinges on landed price, availability and quality compliance (acidity, COA per lot). It is a professional market, factual and competitive.
An opportunistic outlet. Tunisian oil finds its place there mainly in years of poor local harvest or when Iberian prices rise: Tunisian bulk then becomes a competitive sourcing complement.
Organic, a possible complement. Even in a producer country, the imported organic segment can find takers among bottlers who round out their range without investing in a local conversion. Our lots certified EU 2018/848 (traced via TRACES) meet this occasional need, particularly for repackaging destined for export.

The Tunisian advantage remains objective: bulk price at origin around €3.80/kg FOB, a raw-material cost that can make the difference against local and Spanish production in a market where a fraction of a cent decides the sale. The award-winning quality of Tunisian oil and its campaign consistency make it a credible sourcing complement for a Portuguese bottler that needs to secure its volumes when the Iberian harvest tightens.

Buyer side (PT bottler/trader): use Tunisian bulk as a competitive sourcing complement against local production, secure the quota (AGRIM licence + EUR.1) and per-lot quality (COA + sample). Seller/exporter side: don't target the retail brand, but B2B bulk to bottlers and traders; play on price and availability, especially in years of poor Iberian harvest.

Logistics & flows to Portugal

The flow departs from Radès (Tunisia) to Lisbon or the Atlantic-coast ports by sea.

Ports of entry: Lisbon as priority, Setúbal and Leixões (Porto) as secondary.
Bulk formats: flexitank (20' container), IBC (1,000 L), drums — bulk is the natural format for the Portuguese trade/bottling channel.
Incoterms: FOB Radès for a first order, CIF Lisbon for a landed port 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 Portugal

What customs duty does Tunisian olive oil pay in Portugal?

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 Portugal?

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 Portugal an interesting market even though it produces its own oil?

Yes, but differently: it is a producer country (Alentejo). Tunisian oil comes in as a bulk sourcing complement for bottlers and traders, especially in years of poor local harvest, rather than as a retail brand.

Can a Tunisian brand be sold in Portugal?

It is difficult: the shelf is dominated by local brands and the consumer is attached to national production. The realistic outlet is B2B bulk to industrial users and traders, not the retail brand.

What is the most common port of entry?

Lisbon, with Setúbal and Leixões (Porto) as complements, is the natural entry point from Radès.

Against whom is Tunisian oil competing in Portugal?

Directly against local production (Alentejo) and Spanish oil. The arbitrage is made on landed price, availability and quality compliance.

Does organic sell in Portugal?

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

How should I approach a Portuguese bottler or trader?

With a clear and competitive offer: landed price at Lisbon, MOQ, acidity tolerances, COA and sample. Position Tunisian bulk as a sourcing complement against local and Iberian production.

Which incoterm should I choose for Portugal?

For a first order, FOB Radès is the standard. CIF Lisbon delivers a landed port 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 Portugal

Volume, format (flexitank / IBC / drum or packaged), incoterm (FOB Radès or CIF Lisbon), private label or trade bulk, 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: Portugal".

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