Tunisia

2024 Tunisia harvest report

Tunisian olive oil production is expected to rebound to 220,000 tons in the 2023/24 crop year, significantly more than the previous year but well below the record-breaking 440,000 tons produced in 2020/21. While production increases were not universally experienced across the country, many groves in the most productive regions entered an ‘on-year’ in the olive tree's alternate bearing cycle. Olive growing is widespread across Tunisia, with Sfax being the most prolific olive oil-producing region. Overall, producers believe the lack of irrigation and the high average age of Tunisian olive trees are two reasons why the country does not consistently produce 300,000 tons each year, which many experts believe is its true potential. To that end, the government announced plans to increase extra virgin olive oil production by planting more irrigated high-density and super-high-density groves, building new mills and investing in modernizing existing mills. Tunisia is already one of the world’s leading producers and exporters of organic extra virgin olive oil, with efforts to invest in more organic groves and improve best practices for organic farms. The vast majority of Tunsiain olive oil is exported in bulk to the European Union and the United States, where it is individually packaged and sold at higher margins. The government wants to restructure the sector's governance to promote higher-value individually packaged exports and increase domestic consumption, which remains very low. While rising winter temperatures present an upcoming challenge for olive growers – as trees receive fewer chill hours – some producers are confident the local Chetoui and Chemlali are more tolerant to higher temperatures and continue to produce. Find out more about the latest developments in the Tunisian olive oil sector here.