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Tunisia Promoted Olive Oil Exports in Dakar

Tunisian officials held an economic summit to strengthen trade ties and expand olive oil distribution in West Africa.

Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Organic Food

Bold vector editorial illustration showing a stylized olive oil bottle and green olives, representing agricultural trade expansion.
Tunisia hosted an economic summit in Dakar this week to expand its olive oil export footprint into West African markets. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Tunisia hosted an economic event in Dakar from October 7 to 9 to highlight its olive oil industry and secure new partnerships. The nation aims to use Senegal as a strategic gateway for trade across the broader West African region.

Why it matters

Tunisia is actively working to diversify its geographic export reach to reduce reliance on existing markets. By fostering joint ventures and packaging partnerships, the country hopes to cement its position as a key supplier in the West African food sector.

Tunisia maintains a massive agricultural base with over 147 million olive trees spanning 2 million hectares. During the 2025-2026 season, the country generated nearly 5 billion Tunisian dinars through the export of 380,000 tonnes of olive oil.

The players

Tunisian Ministry of Trade and Export Development

This government entity is responsible for regulating national commerce and expanding international trade opportunities.

Export Promotion Centre (CEPEX)

This public organization supports Tunisian exporters by providing trade data and facilitating international market penetration.

The details

The event was organized by the Tunisian Ministry of Trade and Export Development alongside the Export Promotion Centre to connect with local business leaders. The primary objective is to move beyond bulk supply and build infrastructure for distribution and packaging in Senegal.

Timeline

  1. The CEPEX trade office in Dakar has operated since 2023.

  2. The export period for Tunisian olive oil spanned from November 2025 to August 2026.

  3. The economic event in Dakar took place from October 7 to 9, 2026.

Culture Shift

The push into West Africa reflects a broader movement toward South-South trade cooperation as nations seek to move away from traditional reliance on Northern markets. This shift follows a pattern set by the African Continental Free Trade Area protocols by facilitating cross-border trade agreements.

For consumers in West Africa, this initiative could mean greater availability and more competitive pricing for high-quality imported olive oil. Business owners in the region may also see new opportunities to engage in packaging or distribution ventures with Tunisian partners.

The takeaway

Tunisian olive oil producers are banking on regional hubs to scale their footprint across emerging markets. Readers interested in agricultural trade can look for similar partnerships as countries prioritize direct access to growing consumer bases.

Further reading

Discover more about the global market for high-quality staples in our Organic Food section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by APAnews - African Press Agency.

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