The Tunisian experience in olive oil export: An analytical study

Abstract

This study addresses Tunisia’s experience in exporting olive oil, considering this product of great importance to the country, as Tunisia has ranked among the top olive oil–exporting nations, preceded only by Italy and Spain. This prominent commercial position is partly attributed to supportive and encouraging policies for olive oil exports. The study found that Tunisia possesses a comparative advantage in this product: according to both the Balassa Index / RCA Index and the Lafay Index, Tunisia is strongly specialized in olive oil. However, the sector faces several obstacles, the most significant being logistical costs—especially transportation expenses—along with the difficulty of finding foreign buyers and the multiplicity of stakeholders involved in its promotion. To overcome these challenges and enhance the level of olive oil production and export, it is necessary to improve quality, efficiency, and competitiveness throughout the production chain. This includes the adoption of better farming and harvesting techniques, timely and efficient transportation of olives, well-organized olive oil mills, and the establishment of traceability and certification systems to meet the requirements of retailers and premium markets.