There’s something special about the olive trees in Kabylie. They’ve been there for hundreds of years, cared for by families generation after generation. But things are changing. Farmers are not just following tradition anymore. They’re using better tools and learning how to sell their oil to other countries. Some are building new brands, some are exporting, and others are just getting started. Algeria’s olive oil industry is growing fast. And if you’re thinking about investing, this might be the right time to take a closer look.

Upon reading this article, you will be able to

Rich Historical Roots and Cultural Foundations

Expansion of Olive Cultivation

Harvest and Oil Production

Consumption & Domestic Market Potential

Story of Numidia: From Kabylie to the World

Land Acquisition & Plantation Development

Olive trees have grown in Algeria for thousands of years. These have been here since Phoenician and Roman times. In Magra, the Romans knew it as Macri and proudly pressed olives on those same lands. Today, this long history still lives in shaded groves and local kitchens.

Harvesting olives isn’t just work. Villages come alive with tweeza or touiza, a tradition where people join forces. They gather during October to December to pick olives. Children and adults sing old folk songs while sharing couscous and honey cakes at day’s end. It’s a time of unity, of helping each other for no pay, simply because it binds the community together.

Then there’s tajine zitoun, the olive stew you’ll find at dinner tables across Algeria. It’s a comforting dish filled with olives, chicken, and oil—soaked through warm bread. Olive oil also serves as a home remedy. Grandparents rub it on skin to soothe and soften. It’s as much medicine as food.

These are some long-standing traditions. When you taste Algerian olive oil, you’re tasting community, tradition, and care. Olive oil here carries stories of families working together in the mountains, of centuries-old recipes, of pride in homeland heritage.

For visitors and investors, this cultural richness is a beneficial feature. People worldwide increasingly seek products rooted in authenticity and values. Algeria’s olive oil offers exactly that: history, tradition, and human connection bottled for the global market. By preserving and sharing these roots, Algeria isn’t just growing olives. It’s sharing a living culture, one olive at a time.

In the north, regions like Béjaïa, Tizi Ouzou, Bouira, and Jijel grow most of the country’s olives. About 42% of the national output comes from these parts. Here, winters are mild and rainy, summers hot and dry, just what olive trees thrive on.

Farmers in Tizi Ouzou, for example, see summer highs around 31 °C (88 °F) and winter lows near 5 °C (41 °F), with rain from October to April. It’s this exchange of sun and rain that nurtures olives year after year.

But the climate is shifting. Since the 1950s, rainfall has dropped by around 10.7 mm each decade, and in some regions, up to 40% less rain. Droughts are have become more common. Wildfires like those in 2021 wiped out over 100,000 ha of trees, including olive orchards, and damaged nearly 16,000 ha of fruit trees in Tizi Ouzou and Béjaïa. These events adversely affect farming families economically.

In response, Algeria has introduced the Green Dam. It is a belt of new forests stretching across the pre-Saharan zones since the 1970s to curb desert spread. The government recently renewed this effort, planning to restore over 1.2 million ha and link tree planting to rural livelihoods and sustainable land use .

For investors, you’ll find opportunity in orchards built for today’s climate. That means hybrid drought-resistant trees, water-saving irrigation, and fire-protection measures. Every step forward gives you stronger returns. Algeria has the perfect land for olive oil, but only if we build a future that cares for both the trees and the people who tend them.

Let’s explore how Algeria’s olive oil sector has grown into a major player. In recent years, Algeria has dramatically expanded both land and trees:

As of 2025, Algeria has over 443,000 hectares of olive plantations across 49 provinces. This is a major jump from around 160,000 hectares in 2000, showing consistent government support and farmer interest. The country now has more than 65 million olive trees, with 48 million mature, fruit-bearing trees and the rest newly planted. A new initiative was also launched in 2024. It is planting 1 million additional trees, with provinces like El Bayadh already adding nearly 490,000 seedlings over 1,200 hectares of new land.

• Algeria harvested around 9 million quintals of olives in the most recent season.
• 6 million quintals went into oil production.
• 3 million quintals were used as table olives.
• The virgin olive oil market in Algeria is now valued at approximately US $336 million (2024) and growing at a rate of 2–3% per year.

Béjaïa stands out as one of Algeria’s most important olive-producing regions. In 2024 alone, farmers in Béjaïa harvested over 111,000 quintals of olives. This impressive yield is expected to generate nearly 13 million litres of olive oil for the seasons. The region’s success is also deeply rooted tradition. Béjaïa is home to around 400 olive mills. Many of these mills are small, family-owned businesses that have been passed down for generations. These local producers play a key role in preserving both the quality of the oil and the cultural value tied to its production.

Algeria’s olive oil production has grown steadily over the years. This sharp increase reflects a growing national and international demand. The trend shows that with continued investment and modernisation, Algeria has the potential to compete more strongly in the global olive oil market.

Algerian olive oil is quietly making a name for itself far beyond its borders.

Over the past few years, Algeria’s olive oils have been receiving international recognition at major competitions in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Experts are noticing the quality, especially the oils produced through cold-press and modern extraction methods. Many of these oils are now earning gold and silver medals in categories like “organic,” “medium fruity,” and “early harvest.”

These recognitions tell the world that Algeria is capable of producing high-quality, export-ready olive oil that can compete globally. It also builds confidence among international buyers, distributors, and consumers who are always looking for authentic, flavorful, and well-crafted oils.

What makes Algerian olive oil stand out is the connection to tradition. Many of the award-winning oils come from regions where olives have been grown for generations. Families take pride in the way they harvest and press their olives, often using a blend of old knowledge and new methods.

So whether you’re thinking about entering the export business, Algeria’s olive oil sector is finally getting the global spotlight it deserves.

In recent seasons, Algeria consumed around 87,000 tonnes of olive oil, placing it among the top 15 countries globally for total use. By 2026, Algeria’s olive oil consumption could reach 120,000 t, with production near 119,250 t. This means almost everything produced would be used at home or sent abroad.

Young people now show a rising interest in virgin and extra-virgin olive oils. They appreciate the taste, health aspects, and connections to family traditions . That shift opens exciting paths. If we re‑position olive oil with clear origin labels (e.g., “From Kabylie”) and modern packaging at fair prices, Algerians will buy mor

Numidia is a brand that’s become a powerful example of Algeria’s olive oil potential.

Numidia started in 2008 in Kabylie, near Béjaïa, inside Huileries Ouzellaguen. They use olives from the Soummam Valley and press them cold with centrifuges. This technique keeps the oil fresh and flavorful. By 2017, Numidia was already sending 15,000 litres to Europe and Asia. That’s when their story began to gain momentum. They went from local treasure to global contender.

It took only a few years before they started collecting medals. In 2019, Numidia earned a bronze medal for “medium fruity” olive oil in Paris. Then in April 2023, at the Olio Nuovo Days in Paris, an event judged by top chefs and tasters at the Ritz, Numidia won Premium Gold for “Green Fruity” early-harvest EVOO—a high honor among about 120 entries from 13 countries.

Numidia is a brand that’s become a powerful example of Algeria’s olive oil potential.

Today, Numidia bottles are found in stores across Europe (France, Spain, Belgium) and even reaching markets in Asia . They produce around 200,000 litres per year, focusing on quality. Their extra-virgin oil comes in three flavors: intense green fruity, classic ripe fruity, and sweet, mellow matured. Each of these are sold in elegant bottles and certified for organic or first-cold-pressed standards.

For you, investing in a company like Numidia, or creating something similar, means stepping into a proven model. Start with carefully tended orchards, set up modern mills, aim for certification, and enter competitions. The awards and export success follow and bring premium margins and brand recognition.

Let’s talk about where smart investment in Algeria’s olive oil sector can make the biggest impact. Here’s how each part of the value chain offers a clear path forward:

Algeria is pushing to increase its olive-covered land to 1 million hectares by 2030, up from 443,000 ha today. That means there’s space and government backing for new opportunities. Many of the newest plantings are in desert-edge areas where groundwater is available. This opens up opportunities for greenfield investment, planting high-yield, drought-resistant varieties with modern techniques.

A 2023 study in northern Algeria used satellite data to balance water use in crops . Precision agriculture systems, like soil probes and drones, are starting to gain traction. Supplying these technologies can lift yields and guard against drought. If you invest here, you can help solve a core problem and reap steady rewards

Most of today’s mills are still using old-fashioned presses. That limits both quality and quantity. Introducing continuous centrifuge systems can increase extraction rates and deliver premium cold-pressed oils. That means more value from each olive. There’s space for modern plants to serve farmers across regions like Béjaïa and Tizi Ouzou.

After milling, there’s room for growth in refining and blending. Local partners like Cevital have started packing and bottling, but production still depends on imports. Investing in a bottling line can meet growing export demand and help make a profitable supply chain.

Winning medals is great, but buyers want certified quality. EU and US markets love labels like “organic,” “AOP Kabylie,” or “First Cold Press.” If growers can follow EU standards and digital traceability, their oil can reach 20–30% higher prices. Olive oil imports to Europe are rising 3–5% annually, and premium oils sell fast. That’s your opportunity.

Leftovers from olive pressing, such as pomace, leaves, and wastewater, don’t have to go to waste. They can become compost, animal feed, bioenergy, or natural cosmetics. Algeria is just touching this field, but global demand for eco-friendly by-products is growing fast. Investing in a small bio-refinery or composting setup can generate profits and show environmental responsibility.

North Africa’s olive oil scene is shifting. Algeria now ranks among the top ten global producers. In the 2023–24 season, Algeria produced around 93,000 tons, making it the world’s 9th-largest olive oil country. That’s a remarkable position with ever-growing momentum.

Meanwhile, global demand is rising. Between 2018 and 2022, European imports of olive oil grew by 3% annually, reaching about 1.5 million tons in 2022, with 65% of that being extra-virgin quality. This shows a clear trend. Europe is hungry for premium, origin-rich oils, especially in countries like the UK, Germany, and Switzerland, where consumers pay more for quality.

Algeria has strong potential in this area, but its export volume has been limited, as much of its olive oil is consumed domestically. That means the sector is touching the surface. Today, expanding into markets such as Canada, the U.S., and the U.K. offers huge profits. With strong production, rising quality, and growing demand abroad, Algeria is well-positioned to move from regional player to global olive oil authority.

Algeria’s olive oil industry is ready for the world. With rising quality, growing global recognition, and expanding production, it can compete internationally. For investors, the opportunities are plenty. Now is the time to be part of this industry and help turn Algeria’s olive oil into a global success story.