Italians complain about large imports of olive oil from Tunisia, quantities and prices

Italian olive oil producers, represented by the agricultural organization Coldiretti of the Apulia region, have raised concerns over a 40.8% surge in olive oil imports from Tunisia, reaching 132,200 tons from January to February 2025. This increase is part of a larger trend, with Europe being the primary destination for 59.5% of Tunisian olive oil exports, followed by North America and Africa. Italy emerges as the leading market, receiving 31.4% of these exports in the first four months of the 2024/2025 season. The situation is further complicated by a significant drop in Tunisian producer prices for olive oil, which fell by 54.9% in February 2025 compared to the previous year. Coldiretti emphasizes the risk of consumer fraud and a potential price collapse for Italian extra virgin olive oil, calling for the maintenance of quality and safety standards as stipulated by EU Regulation 2020/761. The surge in Tunisian imports is attributed to a trade agreement with the EU that allows for duty-free olive oil imports up to a certain volume.

Italian olive oil producers have protested the increased imports of olive oil from Tunisia into their country. According to complaints from the Italian agricultural organization Coldiretti of the Apulia region, Tunisia's olive oil exports, from the beginning of this year's marketing campaign to the end of February 2025, have increased by 40.8%, reaching 132,200 tons. According to the Tunisian National Observatory of Agriculture (Ongri), 59.5% of the total volume of Tunisian olive oil exports goes to the European market, followed by North America (24%) and Africa (9.5%). Italy is the main supplier of Tunisian olive oil, accounting for 31.4% of the quantities exported in the first four months of this season (2024/2025). Spain (24%) and the United States (19.4%) follow. Tunisian packaged olive oil accounted for just 10% of the quantities exported, while bulk exports made up the remaining 90%. The Italian agricultural organization also highlights the collapse of Tunisian producer ...