Andalusia's Exports Reach Record €2.5 Billion
The Spanish region surpassed €2.5 billion in olive oil exports in 2016, setting a new record.
The Spanish region Andalusia surpassed €2.5 billion in olive oil exports in 2016, setting a new record. The world’s leading olive oil-producing region exported 75 percent of the Spain’s total for the year, according to data released by the Agencia Andaluza de Promoción Exterior (Extenda).
Andalusia’s exports of €2.534 billion represented an increase of 21.2 percent from the year before and €300 million more than that of 2014.
Virgin oil it accounted for 73 percent of the exports and the sales for the product ended at a generous €1.85 billion, a 21.4 percent increase over 2015.
All of the top ten markets for Spain increased their purchases of Andalusian olive oils in 2016:
- Italy bought 30 percent of the Andalusian exports with a total value of €761 million, or 11.2 percent more than in 2015;
- In second place was the United States which imported €367 million from Andalusia — 60 percent more than in 2015 and 14.5 percent of the Spanish region’s export total;
- Portugal brought in €266 million, a 26.6 percent increase that accounted for 10 percent of the total;
- France took in €226 million of Andalusian olive oil, a 16.9 percent rise (8.9 percent of the total);
- The United Kingdom imported €108 million worth of olive oil from the Spanish region, a 9.3 percent increase.
- China was in sixth place with €108 million (an increase of 11 percent) and Japan’s imports totaled €84 million ( a 2.9 percent rise).
- Nearly doubling its Andalusian imports, Australia registered a total of €63 million, 85 percent over the previous year, and Germany increased its purchases by 95 percent to €51 million.
Seville led the region in export sales with a total of €1.219 billion, or 48 percent of the Andalusian total, up by one-third from the previous year.
Córdoba was in second place with €535 million and accounted for 21.1 percent of the market. Málaga registered €349 million with an increase of 16 percent in sales, followed by Jaén with a €265 million accounting for 10.5 percent of the total.
Granada exported a value of €144 million (5.7 percent of the total) — 33 percent less than in 2015. Almería had 13.4 million in sales and a slight rise of 1.8 percent.
The region of Andalusia alone exported almost €1 billion more in olive oil than all of Italy.
U.S. sales of olive oil from Andalusia tripled from 2010 to 2016 to reach €367 million last year. Sales to China rose to €108 million — three times the Italian exports to the growing olive oil market.
Related Articles
Jun. 26, 2024
Rising Olive Oil Imports Contribute to Spain’s Trade Deficit with Argentina
While Spain’s agricultural trade deficit fell by 33 percent between 2022 and 2023, olive oil imports increased by nearly 230 percent due to a poor harvest and rising prices.
Feb. 28, 2024
Córdoba Festival Promotes Local Olive Oil Against Backdrop of Harvest Challenges
Organizers hailed the event as an opportunity for local producers to promote their products after a demanding harvest.
Feb. 23, 2024
World Trade Organization Finds U.S. Noncompliant in Table Olive Trade Spat
The WTO ruled that the U.S. must remove tariffs on Spanish table olive imports, while a separate case is pending in the Court of Appeals.
Oct. 1, 2024
Egypt Aims for Significant Increase in Olive Oil Exports
Officials are developing a strategy to increase exports by expanding production.
May. 7, 2024
Trials and Triumphs of Organic Farming in Andalusia
The fifth-generation family behind Luque Ecológico believes organic farming produces flavorful extra virgin olive oil, protects the environment and mitigates the impacts of drought.
Apr. 11, 2024
Turkish Producers Pray Export Ban Ends with Ramadan
While the prohibition on bulk exports has helped control domestic prices, producers worry it has hurt their credibility with international partners.
Jul. 20, 2024
Trade Commission Extends Tariffs on Spanish Black Olives
The decision came two months after the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the Commerce Department’s tariffs.
Apr. 3, 2024
Nurseries in Spain Are Running Low on Olive Tree Seedlings
High olive oil prices at origin, interest from private equity and farmers seeking to shift away from more water-intensive crops are fueling the shortages.