Tunisia's olive oil exports: volumes, destinations, market

Q: Is Tunisia a large olive oil exporter?

Yes. It regularly appears in the global top tier of exporters and is the 1st outside the European Union in many campaigns (to be sourced ) . The country exports the majority of its production.

Q: How many tonnes does Tunisia export?

Order of magnitude ~100 to 300 kt per campaign , highly dependent on the harvest. A small harvest strongly reduces the volumes available for export.

Q: What are the main destinations?

Historically the European Union (Spain, Italy, in bulk), then the United States , France , and growing markets in the Gulf , Canada and Asia .

Q: What is the EU quota of 56,700 tonnes?

It is the annual tariff quota of Tunisian olive oil imported into the EU at reduced duty : 56,700 tonnes (exact regulatory figure). Beyond that, the full duty applies.

Q: Why does Tunisia export mainly in bulk?

Historically, the oil leaves in bulk for Spain and Italy, which re-export or bottle it under their own brands. The current challenge is to move up in value through branded packaged product and organic.

Q: Does Tunisia sell under its own brand?

Increasingly. The share of branded packaged product (including organic) is progressing, even though bulk remains the majority. It is a value lever for Tunisian exporters.

Q: Where do these export figures come from?

From Tunisian customs , the IOC and the Eurostat / Comtrade databases. They are dated and to be confirmed , as they are published with a lag and revised.

Q: Is the EU quota quickly exhausted?

It is generally consumed every year , often quickly, which makes it a calendar challenge for importers wishing to benefit from the reduced duty.

Q: What is Tunisia's global export market share?

It fluctuates depending on the harvest, but a good campaign can place Tunisia in the global top 3 exporters (to be sourced ) . Exact figure to be confirmed at the source.

Q: Is this data reliable enough to import?

These are dated orders of magnitude , useful for getting your bearings, but. For a firm volume within the quota, request a dated quote.

** Data as of: July 2026 — by campaign, to be verified with customs / IOC.**

Tunisia is one of the very first world exporters of olive oil and the leading one outside the European Union in many campaigns (to be sourced ). The country exports a very large share of its production, historically in bulk to Europe, with a growing share as branded packaged product. This page tracks the export volumes, the main destinations and Tunisia's market share, with a reminder of the EU quota of 56,700 tonnes at reduced duty.

Export volumes depend directly on the harvest (highly volatile) and on stocks. The figures below are dated orders of magnitude, in wide ranges, to be confirmed with Tunisian customs, the IOC or Eurostat/Comtrade before any commitment.

In brief

Rank: Tunisia regularly appears in the global top 3-4 exporters and 1st outside the EU (to be sourced ).
Exported volume: order of magnitude ~100 to 300 kt / campaign, highly variable depending on the harvest.
Historical destinations: European Union (Spain, Italy), then the United States, and growing markets in the Gulf, Canada, Asia.
EU quota: reduced-duty tariff quota of 56,700 tonnes / year (exact regulatory figure).
Trend: rise of branded packaged product and organic beyond traditional bulk.
Frequency: data by campaign, revised at publication.

Volumes & destinations of Tunisian exports (orders of magnitude)

Indicative volumes per campaign, in thousands of tonnes (kt), and approximate breakdown by destination. Wide hedged ranges — to be confirmed with official sources.

Indicator	Order of magnitude	Status
Total volume exported / campaign	~100 – 300 kt	to be verified
Share of production exported	majority of production	to be verified
Of which to the European Union	historically majority share	to be verified
Of which under the EU reduced-duty quota	up to 56,700 t	exact regulatory figure
Branded packaged share	minority but growing	to be verified

Main destinations (indicative)

Destination	Role	Status
Spain	Bulk (re-export / bottling)	to be verified
Italy	Bulk (bottling under IT brand)	to be verified
United States	Bulk + packaged, premium market	to be verified
France	Packaged + bulk	to be verified
Gulf / Canada / Asia	Growing markets	to be sourced

Quick read: a significant share of Tunisian oil leaves in bulk for Spain and Italy, where it is re-exported or bottled under other brands. The strategic challenge for Tunisia is to move up in value through branded packaged product (see private label) and organic.

The EU quota: 56,700 tonnes at reduced duty

The EU-Tunisia association agreement provides for an annual tariff quota of 56,700 tonnes of Tunisian olive oil imported into the Union at reduced customs duty (or even zero depending on the terms). This is an exact regulatory figure.

Within the quota — reduced duty: Tunisian oil is more competitive on the EU market.
Outside the quota — the full duty applies, making the landed price more expensive.
The quota is generally consumed every year, often quickly, which makes it a logistical and calendar challenge for importers.

This quota is decisive for the landed price in Europe: see the price observatory.

Market share: Tunisia's place

Tunisia is the leading producer and exporter outside the European Union in many campaigns (to be sourced ).
Its global export market share fluctuates strongly depending on the harvest: a good campaign can propel it into the global top 3 exporters.
The country is a structural supplier to the Mediterranean basin: without Tunisian oil, part of the volume bottled in Spain and Italy could not be served.

To understand where this oil goes, see the import statistics by country.

Methodology & sources

Sources — Tunisian customs and industry bodies (such as the ONH), the IOC, and Eurostat / Comtrade databases for mirror flows.
Status — dated figures, in wide hedged ranges, to be confirmed: exported volumes depend on a highly variable harvest.
Frequency — **annual ** update, aligned with the campaign close and the publication of customs statistics (often with several months' lag).
No fabricated data — uncertain values are marked "to be verified " or "to be sourced ".

Do you import Tunisian oil and want to secure a volume within the quota? Request a dated quote.

Frequently asked questions

Is Tunisia a large olive oil exporter?

Yes. It regularly appears in the global top tier of exporters and is the 1st outside the European Union in many campaigns (to be sourced ). The country exports the majority of its production.

How many tonnes does Tunisia export?

Order of magnitude ~100 to 300 kt per campaign, highly dependent on the harvest. A small harvest strongly reduces the volumes available for export.

What are the main destinations?

Historically the European Union (Spain, Italy, in bulk), then the United States, France, and growing markets in the Gulf, Canada and Asia.

What is the EU quota of 56,700 tonnes?

It is the annual tariff quota of Tunisian olive oil imported into the EU at reduced duty: 56,700 tonnes (exact regulatory figure). Beyond that, the full duty applies.

Why does Tunisia export mainly in bulk?

Historically, the oil leaves in bulk for Spain and Italy, which re-export or bottle it under their own brands. The current challenge is to move up in value through branded packaged product and organic.

Does Tunisia sell under its own brand?

Increasingly. The share of branded packaged product (including organic) is progressing, even though bulk remains the majority. It is a value lever for Tunisian exporters.

Where do these export figures come from?

From Tunisian customs, the IOC and the Eurostat / Comtrade databases. They are dated and to be confirmed, as they are published with a lag and revised.

Is the EU quota quickly exhausted?

It is generally consumed every year, often quickly, which makes it a calendar challenge for importers wishing to benefit from the reduced duty.

What is Tunisia's global export market share?

It fluctuates depending on the harvest, but a good campaign can place Tunisia in the global top 3 exporters (to be sourced ). Exact figure to be confirmed at the source.

Is this data reliable enough to import?

These are dated orders of magnitude, useful for getting your bearings, but. For a firm volume within the quota, request a dated quote.

Where can I see who imports this oil?

On the import statistics by country page, which lists the world's largest olive oil importers.

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Page in English. Data as of July 2026 — by campaign, to be verified. EU quota 56,700 t = exact regulatory figure; other values in wide ranges, none fabricated.