Tunisian olive oil in the US, 25% of all imports

Tunisian olive oil in the US

In June 2025, U.S. olive oil imports reached an all-time high, soaring to 66,049 tons—a 98.7% increase compared to the same month in the previous year. This significant surge in imports was largely driven by four key suppliers: Italy, Spain, Tunisia, and Turkey, which collectively accounted for nearly 95% of the total imported volume.

Tunisia, in particular, saw a remarkable increase in its exports to the U.S. Its olive oil shipments more than doubled, jumping by over 170% from 5,917 tons during the 2023-2024 season to 16,158 tons in the 2024-2025 season. This substantial growth positioned Tunisia as a major player in the American market, contributing 24.5% of all olive oil imported by the U.S. in June 2025.

Despite Tunisia’s rise, the European Union remains the primary supplier of olive oil to the U.S. In June 2025, the average value of EU olive oil exports was €521.7 per 100 kg, representing a 48.3% year-on-year decrease and a 5.5% drop from the previous month. Extra virgin olive oil, which constituted 72% of the EU’s total exports to the U.S., had a slightly higher value of €569.1 per 100 kg. This data, released by the International Olive Council (IOC), highlights the dynamic shifts in the global olive oil trade, with the U.S. market experiencing record-breaking import volumes and new suppliers gaining significant market share.

Tunisian olive oil sector faces crisis amid record harvest

The Tunisian olive oil sector is poised for a record-breaking 2025/2026 harvest, with production estimates ranging between 400,000 and 500,000 tons. This surge in volume, significantly higher than the previous year’s 340,000 tons, suggests substantial export potential. However, this promising outlook is overshadowed by severe challenges, primarily plummeting export prices, financial misconduct, and growing unrest among farmers.

While President Kaïs Saied inaugurated the new olive campaign, he simultaneously called for comprehensive improvements across all production phases, demanding greater support for small farmers and the reinstatement of the governmental Olive Oil Board’s key role. The government is also advocating for an increase in bottled Tunisian olive oil exports, as these products command a higher market value than bulk sales.

Despite a 40.1 percent increase in export volume between November 2024 and April 2025, national revenue from the commodity dropped sharply by 28.9 percent, falling from approximately €1 billion to €715.5 million. This critical disparity—record volume but falling income—is attributed not merely to market dynamics, but to opaque financial operations and large-scale illegal sales.

Reports indicate that certain exporting firms successfully sold large consignments of bulk Tunisian olive oil to Spanish buyers at significantly reduced prices (€2.80 per kilogram, well below the official price of €3.40). These suspicious transactions were allegedly managed by companies linked to major exporter Adel Ben Romdhane, who is reported to have fled the country for Spain, leaving behind a staggering debt estimated at over €132 million.

The continuous practice of selling large volumes of Tunisian olive oil at such steep discounts is expected to have a lasting negative impact, potentially affecting global olive oil prices throughout the 2025/2026 campaign across all major markets. Furthermore, the sector’s main markets, including the European Union and the United States, remain complicated, particularly due to the 25% U.S. tariff imposed on imports from Tunisia.