Monday 5th January 2026
By inAfrika Newsroom
Tunisia olive oil harvest 2026 is set to push the country ahead of Italy in global rankings after producers forecast one of the strongest seasons in years. Analysts expect output of 380,000 to 400,000 tonnes in the 2025–26 season, with local industry leaders hoping it could rise toward 500,000 tonnes.
The jump matters because Tunisia relies heavily on olive oil exports, tourism and remittances for foreign currency. Moreover, high global olive oil prices have supported farm incomes and export receipts.
Tunisia’s gain also reflects a wider climate pattern. Drought and heat have hit Mediterranean rivals, including Spain, Italy and Greece. Consequently, Tunisia’s better rainfall this season has created an opening for higher market share.
Still, exporters face a branding challenge. Much of Tunisia’s olive oil leaves in bulk and later gets rebranded abroad. Therefore, the country may earn less than it could from premium bottled sales.
The harvest arrives as Tunisia remains under debt pressure and stays largely shut out of global debt markets. Growth has also stayed weak in 2025. Even so, a strong olive season can offer a short-term cushion for rural jobs and public revenue.
Producers will now focus on quality control and export timing. They also want tighter enforcement against fraud and better traceability to protect reputation.
Meanwhile, policymakers face calls to support more local bottling and branding. If Tunisia sells more value-added product, it can lift export earnings beyond the raw volume surge in the Tunisia olive oil harvest 2026 season.
Olive oil supports hundreds of thousands of livelihoods in Tunisia’s rural regions. A strong season can stabilise incomes and slow migration.
Also, shifting climate conditions are changing global food supply chains. Tunisia’s surge shows how weather can quickly reshape who wins market share.
English 
Swahili 
French 
Portuguese 
Chinese