(ANSAmed) - TUNIS, NOVEMBER 15 - Tunisian olive oil exports for the 2018-2019 season are expected to reach a volume of about 170,000 tons, with revenue estimated between 1.6 and 1.8 billion dinars, the equivalent of 580 million euros, said Chokri Bayoudh, director of the National Olive Oil Board of Tunisia (ONH).
    He told Tunisian news agency TAP that the volume is based on expected production for the next season, which is estimated at around 140,000 tons.
    That will be added to between 50,000 to 60,000 tons of stock from the past season, which was characterised by a serious drought that cut production by more than half.
    Bayoudh said this season's positive result is due in part to the strengthening of crop irrigation with the implementation of new field irrigation systems.
    Tunisia produced 325,000 tons of olive oil in the last season, with exports of 215,000 tons and revenue of 2.146 billion dinars.
    Bayoudh said this exceeded expections, which were set at 200,000 tons and two billion dinars.
    He said duty-free Tunisian olive oil exports to the EU totaled 56,700 tons, a total that has remained stable for several years.
    The country has presented a request to the EU to increase Tunisia's duty-free allowance for last season, in particular given the significant production level, he said.
    The European market is Tunisia's largest for olive oil exports, and on its own constitutes 60% of international olive oil production.(ANSAmed).