The influx of cheap olive oil imports from Tunisia has resulted in a significant collapse of prices in Italy, causing heightened tensions between local farmers and the powerful bottling industry. According to the agricultural union Coldiretti, imports from Tunisia increased by approximately 40% year-on-year in the first ten months of 2025, forcing many Italian producers to sell at a loss and struggle to compete. David Granieri, vice president of Coldiretti, stated that it will be very difficult for prices to recover, given how the influx coincided with the Italian harvest season.

The timing of these import surges has raised concerns among Italian growers who believe that the olive oil industry is deliberately attempting to lower prices to benefit the bottlers at their expense. The challenges for local farmers are compounded by the structural production deficit within Italy's olive oil sector, as noted by the Italian olive oil industry association, which argues that the rise in imports was inevitable. The association claims that the recent price reductions are reflective of a necessary adjustment given the current production capabilities and market dynamics.

Amid these economic tensions, the olive oil industry is at a crossroads, facing the need to balance international competition while ensuring the sustainability of local production. As concerns mount over the impact of a flooded market from imported Tunisian olive oil, both the government and industry leaders will need to address the policies regarding quality control and import regulations to protect local farmers and the integrity of domestic production.