Tunisia’s olive oil exports rise in volume but revenues fall on lower prices

In 2025, Tunisia’s olive oil sector — a key contributor to the country’s agricultural export earnings — faced declining revenues despite a sharp increase in export volumes. According to the National Observatory of Agriculture (ONAGRI), olive oil export revenues fell by 16.3% year-on-year to around 4 billion dinars ($1.39 billion).

At the same time, export volumes surged by 60% to 318,000 tonnes. The drop in earnings was mainly driven by a significant decline in global olive oil prices, which reportedly fell by nearly half. This contrasts with other agricultural products, where exports showed growth, including fishery products (+8.2%), tomatoes (+4.1%), citrus fruits (+19.3%), and dates (+1.4%).

Overall, Tunisia’s agricultural and food export revenues reached 7.75 billion dinars ($2.66 billion) in 2025, down 8.5% compared to 2024. The share of agricultural exports in total national exports also decreased from 13.7% to 12.2%, although olive oil still accounts for more than half of the country’s food export earnings.

Analysts attribute the price decline to a recovery in global olive oil production in 2025 after two years of reduced output. Increased supply has put pressure on international prices, even as demand from key markets such as the United States and the European Union remains strong. As of February 2026, global benchmark prices stood at approximately $6,150 per tonne.

Looking ahead, the market is expected to remain volatile due to climate-related factors and uneven harvests across the Mediterranean region. However, sustained demand and weather-related risks may support relatively high price levels in 2026, offering potential for revenue stabilization for Tunisian exporters.