Tunisian olive oil exports show promising growth, but packaging remains a key challenge

Revenue also saw a substantial rise, from 2,400 million dinars to 3,600 million dinars. Fiscal expert Mohamed Salah Ayari highlighted the strategic importance of this sector for the national economy, particularly its contribution to foreign currency earnings and agricultural development. The cultivation of olive trees is expanding beyond traditional regions like the Sahel and Sfax, now thriving in areas such as Sidi Bouzid, Kairouan, Kasserine, and parts of the Northwest, partly due to the olive tree's resilience to drought.

Despite this positive trend, Ayari emphasized that the main challenge is enhancing the value of Tunisian olive oil through improved packaging. Currently, about 87% of exports are in bulk, with only 13% being packaged. A significant portion of this bulk oil is sent to Spain 32% and Italy 20% for packaging under foreign brands.

Ayari advocates for accelerating incentives to increase the share of packaged oil to at least 20% of exports, which would boost the visibility of Tunisian brands internationally. He also called for diversifying export markets, noting that the European Union accounts for 56% of exports, North America 23.2%, and Asian markets only 12%. Ayari sees opportunities in China due to recent advantages for African products and believes tha