Olive Oil Production in Tunisia: Prices, Exports, and State Support
The President of the National Chamber of Olive Producers, Najah Saïdi Hamed, indicated in an interview on the "Midi Show" program that the price of a liter of olive oil would initially be between 12 and 12.4 dinars. She specified that this price could be revised upwards or downwards depending on global standards and prices. She added that the olive oil harvest for this season is expected to be between 460,000 and 500,000 tonnes, while noting an improvement in state support for the sector. Ms. Saïdi called for the creation of a state-supervised holding company to organize the olive oil industry and monitor the different stages of production and marketing. She explained that although recent years have shown an increasing trend in exports, particularly to the United States, export operations to the American market are currently being postponed due to the imposition of new taxes. She emphasized that the olive oil market is subject to stock market fluctuations and political decisions, making it sensitive to any changes in international trade policies. The President also welcomed the call by the President of the Republic to strengthen economic diplomacy and promote Tunisian olive oil on global markets. She estimated that this requires a genuine willingness and effective action from Tunisian embassies abroad to promote the national product. Ms. Saïdi recalled that the production season has not yet truly begun and is expected to start in the next three weeks. She insisted that the role of the farmer is limited to production, covering expenses, and making profits, while the state has the responsibility to provide support and provide the necessary conditions for the sector. She finally judged that the current priority is to provide sufficient financial liquidity to keep the economy running, welcoming the call by the President of the Republic to banks to commit to ensuring the success of the olive harvest season and supporting farmers.
