Tunisian olive oil production decreases

A Tunisian economic source confirmed that the Tunisian production of olive oil, which is expected to reach 95 thousand tons, decreased in the 1997/1998 season. He pointed out that the production of the 1996/1997 season achieved 310 thousand tons. The decrease in this year's production is due to the shortage of rain and the weakness of the olive trees after producing a record crop.

The economic official expected that Tunisia will export 120 thousand tons, 46 thousand tons of which will go to the European Union countries within the favorite country status granted by the Union to Tunisia. Tunisia also exports to Spain, Italy, USA, and Australia.

Tunisia has a reserve of the olive oil from the previous season estimated at 160 thousand tons which will help it to provide the local and international markets with its needs and will make enough reserve to the upcoming season.

There are 1433 olive oil presses in Tunisia in addition to 30 presses that will be set up within the 9th development plan which allocated about $88 million investments for this purpose compared to $77 million in the 8 development plan.