Tunisia Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in tunisia, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
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Agricultural Sectors
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Overview

Tunisia is a net importer of agricultural products.  In 2024, leading agricultural imports were wheat ($713 million), corn ($272 million), soybeans ($243 million), vegetable oils ($242 million), sugar ($206 million), and barley ($194 million). Tunisia’s leading agriculture-related exports were olive oil ($1,688 million), dates ($331 million), fish products ($225 million), and citrus ($7 million). 

Tunisia applies an average import duty of 36% on agricultural products. In 2024, U.S. agricultural exports to Tunisia totaled $160 million, with soybeans and corn accounting for more than 87%.  

In 2024, Tunisia’s agricultural exports to the United States totaled $525 million, 96% of which was olive oil and dates. Tunisia supplied the United States with 16% of its imported dates and 15% of its imported olive oil.

In GDP terms agriculture plays a relatively modest role in Tunisia’s economy but employs 15% of the country’s workforce and is an important source of exports and foreign currency. While larger agricultural enterprises are increasingly prominent, the sector remains politically sensitive and heavily regulated. Due to historic and geographic patterns, the EU heavily influences Tunisia’s agriculture policy. The government also maintains significant market controls throughout the agricultural value chain, which limits growth and investment opportunities. Public land may be leased from the government to private farmers or managed directly by the Ministry of Agriculture. Foreigners cannot own agricultural land but may obtain long-term leases. 

Leading Sub-sectors

The Food-processing Sector

In 2024, the food-processing sector accounted for an estimated 1,060 enterprises of 10 or more employees. Approximately 19% of these companies exclusively export. The production value of this sector is around $13 billion annually and growing as demand moves from fresh to processed products.  Demand for imported high-value ingredients is steadily increasing, with more sophisticated products licensed by multinational food companies. Cereals and cereal products, oilseeds, vegetable oils, and sugar derivatives account on average for 90% of Tunisia’s food imports.  

The Food Retail Sector

Although the traditional distribution network, based on more than 293,000 neighborhood grocery shops scattered throughout the country, continues to dominate the market, modern distribution channels are growing rapidly. Over the last decade, the retail sector has seen development fueled by the expansion of modern distribution outlets and supermarkets through joint ventures with foreign investors, mostly from France.  Hypermarkets now represent 22% of the retail sector, and the government’s stated goal is to increase that to 25% in 2030.  

The Food Service Sector

In addition to domestic customers, this sector caters to tourists. Most hotels and restaurants either source their food via annual tenders or through the same distribution channels used by households. High-end hotels import spirits, wines, and specialty cheeses either directly or via import companies.  

Opportunities

Significant market opportunities exist for goods and services supporting local agriculture and the agro-processing industry, including soybeans and crude vegetable oil, feed grains and additives, modified starches, enzymes, genetics, grain silos, elevators, tractors, harvesters, irrigation systems, pesticides, and food processing/bottling machinery.  The 2016 Investment Law includes up to 50% tax incentives to encourage acquisition of agricultural equipment.  

The United States and Tunisia also have agreements on multiple health certificates that facilitate market access for U.S.:

  • bovine, caprine, ovine and equine semen, 
  • day-old chicks and hatching eggs, 
  • breeding cattle, sheep and goats, and
  • beef, poultry, and egg products.

Consumer-oriented products with prospects to perform best in the Tunisian market include:

  • tree nuts,
  • dried fruit, 
  • condiments and sauces, 
  • dairy products, 
  • cookies and crackers, 
  • chocolate and cocoa, and 
  • alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.  
     

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) (https://www.fas.usda.gov/) has an office in the U.S. Embassy in Tunis and may be reached at agtunis@fas.usda.gov.   USDA reports, including an Exporter Guide, can be found online at https://gain.fas.usda.gov/#/.

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