Tunisia maintains its position as the world’s leading exporter of olive oil outside the European Union, according to recent official statistics released by the Ministry of Trade.
For several years, the Tunisian government has been engaged in a program to promote its high-quality olive oil. Through initiatives such as agri-food investments and innovative marketing strategies, the sector aims to move from mass production to bottled oils.
Training initiatives have been implemented to promote environmentally friendly production practices, thereby strengthening biosecurity, sustainability, and conservation.
The goal is to put Tunisian olive oil on the global map, help local producers access high-value export markets, and improve product quality.
Additionally, this initiative aims to enhance the sector’s resilience to climate change.
The Tunisian olive sector, with roots dating back to pre-Roman times, is at a turning point in its history. Through strategic investments, well-planned export strategies, food safety measures, and a strong branding image, it is preparing for a renaissance.
Building on pilot initiatives
In this context, a permanent working committee and a 2026 action plan have been established to systematically integrate Tunisian olive oil into the tourism offer and develop sustainable agricultural tourism, according to a report following an interministerial meeting held on Friday, December 26.
Organized jointly by the Ministries of Tourism and Agriculture, the meeting brought together representatives from both departments, national institutions (ONTT, ONH, APIA), professional organizations (UTICA, FTAV, FI2T), and actors in rural accommodation.
This initiative follows the success of pilot projects carried out in Chaâl, Enfidha, and Bizerte, where immersive visits around olive harvesting and processing generated strong tourist interest.
The 2026 action plan includes the creation of “thematic tourist routes” focused on olives, the organization of regional festivals, and the establishment of permanent exhibition spaces in tourist areas.
Olive oil, which covers 40% of Tunisia’s agricultural land and ranks the country as the world’s second-largest producer, will thus be promoted as an “ambassador” of the national food heritage.
Participants emphasized the role of agricultural tourism in diversifying the tourism offer, enhancing local products, and supporting farmers’ incomes. The pilot experiences, considered exemplary, will now be expanded and institutionalized nationwide, combining regional development, job creation, and economic impact.
A more promising future than ever!
Tunisia can promote sustainable economic development, stimulate agricultural innovation, and strengthen its position as a leading global supplier of high-quality olive products. The future of Tunisian olive oil looks more promising than ever.
Revenue from olive oil exports saw successive increases throughout 2024 and 2025.
This improvement is mainly due to a 47% increase in the quantity of olive oil exported, reaching 14,781 tons, despite a 20.6% drop in prices, from TND 23,974 /ton in November 2023 to TND 19,022 /ton currently.
It is noteworthy that the quantities of packaged olive oil exported rose positively by 30%, reaching 2,500 tons, with a value of 67 million dinars.
Dining and Cooking