Thursday, 31 January 2013
TUNIS (TAP) - Olive harvesting continues in different olive oil-producing regions of the country concurrently with the olive oil extraction operations.
Nearly 1,100 oil mills are now operational in Tunisia against 917 units in the previous season. "The rate of progress of harvest reached 70% to January 20, 2013" ChokriBayoudh, Deputy Director of Olive Oil in the Ministry of Agriculture told TAP, reminding that the overall production of olive oil for this season is estimated at 220.000 tons.
Production of olive oil for the 2012-2013 season, which began in November 2012 and run until March 15, 2013, posted an increase of 27% compared to the previous campaign in which production was estimated at 182,000 thousand tons, said the official.
According to Mr. Bayoudh, 21 thousand tons of olive have been exported since the start of the current olive oil season, compared with 15.3 thousand tons in the same period last year.
Tunisia exports olive oil to 50 countries in the world, primarily in Italy (between 40 and 50% of Tunisian exports), followed by the United States (25%) and then Spain (25%), said Mr. Bayoudh.
The total quantities dedicated to exports to these countries are estimated this season at 170,000 tons.
Speaking of the export of packaged olive oil, Mr. Bayoudh said the aim is to reach a rate of 20% within five years,adding that Tunisia seeks this season to keep the same pace of export as the last season, i.e. between 5 and 6 thousand tons (packaged olive oil) by focusing on the US and Middle East markets.
© Tunis-Afrique Presse 2013
