Tunisia has overtaken Spain and Italy to become the leading supplier of olive oil to the United States, according to US import data reported by the Italian trade outlet OlivoNews on October 14, 2026. Between January and August 2026, Tunisia shipped 95,321 tonnes of olive oil to the US, a 45.4% increase year-on-year, while Spain’s exports fell 22% to 90,556 tonnes and Italy’s dropped 24% to roughly 67,000 tonnes. The shift came even as total US olive oil imports fell 7% to 291,542 tonnes over the same period, meaning Tunisia gained share in a shrinking market.
Export Revenue Climbs as Olive Oil Dominates Tunisian Trade
According to Tunisia’s National Agricultural Observatory (ONAGRI), the country’s olive oil export revenue reached 3.77 billion dinars between January and the end of August 2026, up 39.5% from about 2.7 billion dinars in the same period of 2025. Export volume rose 43.1% to 301,400 tonnes, though the average export price slipped 2.5% to 12.51 dinars per kilogram. Olive oil now accounts for 62.1% of Tunisia’s total food exports, up sharply from 53.8% a year earlier, underscoring how central the crop has become to the country’s agricultural trade.
Holding the Top Spot Will Take More Than Volume
Industry observers note that Tunisia’s new position as the top US supplier is an encouraging signal of the country’s capacity to grow in a major international market, but keeping it will depend on more than shipping larger volumes. Analysts point to the need for Tunisian operators to retain existing buyers, diversify their outlets beyond a handful of large markets, and invest in adding value to the product rather than competing purely on price. One often-cited opportunity is packaging and selling more oil under Tunisian private-label brands, which would let producers and exporters capture a larger share of the final retail value instead of shipping mostly in bulk. For buyers sourcing from vetted Tunisian suppliers, this growing US demand is a sign of reliable supply capacity, but it also means early contracting and clear quality specifications matter more than ever as competition for the best lots increases.
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FAQ
Why did Tunisia overtake Spain and Italy in the US olive oil market? Spain’s and Italy’s US shipments fell 22% and 24% respectively in January-August 2026 due to weaker harvests and export volumes, while Tunisia’s exports grew 45.4% to 95,321 tonnes, pushing it into the top position even as total US imports declined 7%.
How much olive oil does Tunisia export overall? Tunisia exported 301,400 tonnes of olive oil worth 3.77 billion dinars between January and August 2026, a 43.1% volume increase and a 39.5% revenue increase compared with the same period in 2025, according to Tunisia’s National Agricultural Observatory (ONAGRI).
Source: La Presse de Tunisie, citing OlivoNews and ONAGRI data
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