Olive Oil Exports by Country: Top 10 Producers and Markets

Olive oil is one of the most popular and healthy vegetable oils in the world. It is produced from the fruit of the olive tree, which is native to the Mediterranean region. Olive oil has many benefits for human health, such as lowering cholesterol, preventing cardiovascular diseases, and protecting against oxidative stress. It is also widely used in cooking, cosmetics, and soap making.

According to Statista, the global export volume of olive oil was 3.01 million metric tons in 2020/21, and it is expected to increase to 3.1 million metric tons in 2021/22. The main exporting countries of olive oil are Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, and Morocco, which together account for more than 80% of the world’s exports. The main importing countries are the European Union, the United States, China, Japan, and Brazil.

In this article, we will explore the top 10 producers and markets of olive oil in the world, based on the latest data from the International Olive Council (IOC) and other sources.

1. Spain

Spain is the largest producer and exporter of olive oil in the world. It has more than 2.5 million hectares of olive groves, which produce about 1.4 million metric tons of olive oil per year. Spain exports about 80% of its production to more than 160 countries, mainly to the European Union, the United States, China, and Japan. Spain is also a major importer of olive oil from other countries, such as Portugal, Morocco, Tunisia, and Turkey.

2. Italy

Italy is the second-largest producer and exporter of olive oil in the world. It has about 1 million hectares of olive groves, which produce about 270 thousand metric tons of olive oil per year. Italy exports about 60% of its production to more than 140 countries, mainly to the European Union, the United States, Canada, and Australia. Italy is also a major importer of olive oil from other countries, such as Spain, Greece, Tunisia, and Turkey.

3. Greece

Greece is the third-largest producer and exporter of olive oil in the world. It has about 750 thousand hectares of olive groves, which produce about 275 thousand metric tons of olive oil per year. Greece exports about 70% of its production to more than 100 countries, mainly to the European Union, the United States, China, and Russia. Greece is also a minor importer of olive oil from other countries, such as Spain and Italy.

4. Turkey

Turkey is the fourth-largest producer and exporter of olive oil in the world. It has about 800 thousand hectares of olive groves, which produce about 210 thousand metric tons of olive oil per year. Turkey exports about 40% of its production to more than 80 countries, mainly to the European Union, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Libya. Turkey is also a minor importer of olive oil from other countries, such as Spain and Italy.

5. Morocco

Morocco is the fifth-largest producer and exporter of olive oil in the world. It has about 1 million hectares of olive groves, which produce about 160 thousand metric tons of olive oil per year. Morocco exports about 90% of its production to more than 60 countries, mainly to the European Union, the United States, Canada, and China. Morocco is also a minor importer of olive oil from other countries, such as Spain and Italy.

6. Portugal

Portugal is the sixth-largest producer and exporter of olive oil in the world. It has about 350 thousand hectares
of olive groves, which produce about 100 thousand metric tons of olive oil per year. Portugal exports about 80% of its production to more than 100 countries, mainly to Spain, Brazil, Angola, and France. Portugal is also a major importer of olive oil from other countries, such as Spain, Italy, and Greece.

7. Tunisia

Tunisia is the seventh-largest producer and exporter of olive oil in the world. It has about 1.7 million hectares of olive groves, which produce about 140 thousand metric tons of olive oil per year. Tunisia exports about 80% of its production to more than 60 countries, mainly to the European Union, the United States, Canada, and China. Tunisia is also a minor importer of olive oil from other countries, such as Spain, Italy, and Turkey.

8. Algeria

Algeria is the eighth-largest producer and exporter of olive oil in the world. It has about 400 thousand hectares of olive groves, which produce about 70 thousand metric tons of olive oil per year. Algeria exports about 50% of its production to more than 40 countries, mainly to France, Spain, Italy, and the United States. Algeria is also a minor importer of olive oil from other countries, such as Spain, Italy, and Tunisia.

9. France

France is the ninth-largest producer and exporter of olive oil in the world. It has about 60 thousand hectares of olive groves, which produce about 6 thousand metric tons of olive oil per year. France exports about 20% of its production to more than 30 countries, mainly to Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. France is also a major importer of olive oil from other countries, such as Spain, Italy, Greece, and Portugal.

10. United States

The United States is the tenth-largest producer and exporter of olive oil in the world. It has about 40 thousand hectares of olive groves, which produce about 5 thousand metric tons of olive oil per year. The United States exports about 10% of its production to more than 20 countries, mainly to Canada, Mexico, Japan, and China. The United States is also a major importer of olive oil from other countries, such as Spain, Italy, Greece, and Turkey.

Olive oil is a valuable commodity in the global market, with a high demand and a diverse supply. The top 10 producers and exporters of olive oil are mainly located in the Mediterranean region, but also in other continents, such as North America and Africa. The main markets for olive oil are the European Union, the United States, China, Japan, and Brazil, which together account for more than 70% of the world’s imports.

Olive Oil Exports by Country: Trends and Opportunities

Olive oil is one of the most widely consumed vegetable oils in the world, especially in the Mediterranean region, where it is a staple of the diet and a symbol of culture and tradition. Olive oil is also valued for its health benefits, as it is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids, antioxidants and polyphenols. According to the International Olive Council (IOC), olive oil production has tripled in the last 60 years to reach 3.3 million tons in the 2019/20 crop year, and consumption has increased by 1.8% annually since 1990/91.

The main producers of olive oil are also the main exporters, as they produce more than they consume domestically. The European Union (EU) accounts for about 70% of global olive oil exports, followed by Turkey, Tunisia, Morocco and Syria. Spain is the largest exporter of olive oil in the world, with a market share of 44% in 2020/21, followed by Italy (18%), Greece (11%) and Portugal (5%). These four countries exported more than 2 million tons of olive oil in 2020/21, mainly to other EU countries, the United States, China, Japan and Brazil.

The global demand for olive oil is expected to grow in the coming years, driven by the increasing awareness of its nutritional and culinary qualities, as well as the expansion of new markets in Asia, Africa and Latin America. However, olive oil exporters also face some challenges, such as price volatility, climate change, pests and diseases, competition from other vegetable oils, trade barriers and quality standards. To overcome these challenges and seize the opportunities, olive oil exporters need to invest in innovation, diversification, promotion and cooperation.

References:

https://web.archive.org/web/20140810141555/http://history.ucsc.edu/undergraduate/undergraduate-research/electronic-journal/journal-pdfs/Brown_2011.pdf

http://ceipac.ub.edu/biblio/Data/A/0134.pdf

https://www.statista.com/statistics/620358/olive-oil-export-volume-worldwide-by-country/
https://www.internationaloliveoil.org/the-world-of-olive-oil/
https://www.internationaloliveoil.org/export-of-olive-oil-in-the-eu/
https://oec.world/en/profile/hs/olive-oil
https://wits.worldbank.org/trade/comtrade/en/country/ALL/year/2019/tradeflow/Exports/partner/WLD/product/150910

https://www.statista.com/statistics/620358/olive-oil-export-volume-worldwide-by-country/

https://oec.world/en/profile/hs/olive-oil/

https://wits.worldbank.org/trade/comtrade/en/country/ALL/year/2019/tradeflow/Exports/partner/WLD/product/150910

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