A record year for olive oil production in Greece is predicted this year, with the price also rising. However, Greek oil is facing structural problems such as the mismanagement of olive fruit in mills while the threat of dako lurks as weather conditions have favored its growth this year. At the same time, the level of competition is growing.

In particular, Greek production is on the rise, while Spain’s harvest is estimated to be cut by 50% due to drought, and if the drought continues and the olive trees don’t pick enough olives. oils, they will give a low yield of fruits. The situation is not good in Italy, where production is also expected to fall, although not as strong as in Spain. However, we must not forget that the olive groves in Italy, and therefore their production in any case, have drastically declined, as the woodworm has killed millions of olive roots in recent years, mostly in Lower Italy.

The price of olive oil in the country has so far reached 4 euros, predicting a very good year for Greek producers also in terms of price. However, according to the International Olive Council (IOC), producer prices in Greece at the beginning of the summer were 3.30 euros/kg, and in Spain over the same period – 3.38 euros/kg, which means an increase of 2.2% . .

Soon Greece will lose its third place in the world in oil production, its place will be taken by Tunisia, followed by Turkey.

While things are going well for Greek olive growers this year as trees are at risk of fruit breakage, especially in northern Crete, Greek olive oil is said to have to face another market in the coming years as the level of competition increases. Olive trees are grown all over the world, for example in Algeria, Saudi Arabia, South America, China and Pakistan. Soon, if it hasn’t already happened, industry experts say, Greece will lose its third place as an oil-producing country on the world map, to Tunisia, and then Turkey.

The chronic stagnation that characterizes this sector is indicated by the fact that “only 2.3% of the standardized olive oil sold worldwide comes from Greece, while the corresponding percentage for Turkey, which has only come into play in recent years, is 2.5%, and for Tunisia – 12.5%. , says Mr. Vassilis Fratzolas, olive oil quality consultant. The minimum quantity of Greek olive oil is standardized, around 45,000 tons out of a total average production of 225,000 tons, while 80% of exported Greek olive oil is still sent anonymously to Italy.

A characteristic feature of the prevailing inertia is that “Germany and England, two countries that do not produce olive oil, seem to be exporting it. This shows that Greek olive oil is moving without an identity,” emphasizes Ms. Maria Katsuli, Director of the Athena International Olive Oil Competition, which has been running for seven years now.

Despite the fact that in the last decade alone, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, more than 50 million euros have been allocated for the promotion of Greek olive oil, “our oil” is mainly exported for consumption by the Greek diaspora in the United States and Germany.