Algeria Aims for Olive Oil Production Record Amid Export Challenges

Algeria's olive oil production is expected to reach a record high in the upcoming 2025/26 season, according to estimates from the National Interprofessional Council for the Olive Sector (CNIFO). The country could produce over 150 thousand tons of olive oil, representing a significant increase of around 76% from approximately 85 thousand tons produced in the previous season.

The growth is attributed to government programs aimed at expanding planted areas, developing irrigation systems, and modernizing processing facilities. Algeria's olive groves cover an estimated 440-500 thousand hectares and include over 65 million trees. With around 1,700 olive oil mills currently operating, production is expected to surge.

However, exports remain a weak point for the sector. Even in recent years, Algeria has only exported around 1 thousand tons of olive oil. The country's export growth is constrained by certification and packaging issues, high logistics costs, and strong competition in the global market. Tunisia, a neighboring country, has already set a record for olive oil exports, with over 368 thousand tons worth $1.6 billion.

Algeria hopes that its sharp increase in production will create opportunities for greater access to foreign markets. However, this will require significant development of export infrastructure and sales channels.