Tunisian olive oil output to jump by 55% this season

TUNIS, Nov 5 (Reuters) – Tunisia expects olive oil output to jump by around 55% this season, the agriculture ministry said on Tuesday, giving a boost to both the country’s exports of “green gold” and also to ailing public finances.

Tunisia is among the world’s top exporters of olive oil, a commodity that has seen growing international interest from both consumers and investors.

“After a significant decline during the past two seasons, this season’s production is back to normal levels with 340,000 tonnes of oil,” said Dorsaf Ben Ahmed, an official at the agriculture ministry.

Last season Tunisia’s olive oil exports brought in a record 5.1 billion dinars ($1.65 billion), helped by a sharp rise in global prices.

The olive harvest season begins in October and runs until the end of February. ($1 = 3.0850 Tunisian dinars) (Reporting by Tarek Amara Editing by Gareth Jones)

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