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Olive Oil Imports Down in Australia, Way Up in Brazil

Posted on October 11 2011 | Categorized in: European Union

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Olive Oil Times Staff | New York

World Olive Oil Production2 | Olive Oil Imports Down in Australia, Way Up in Brazil | europe olive oil business

The world produced just over 3 million tons of olive oil in the 2010/11 harvest season, according to preliminary estimates released today in the International Olive Council’s September Market Summary. Spain is responsible for 46 percent of the total, or nearly 1.4 million tons.

Total worldwide exports and global consumption of olive oil both rose 3 percent over last year. The council noted in its report that for the past five years olive oil consumption has seen an average annual increase of 3 percent. Consumption rose in every country tracked by the report except one: Japan continued its trend and consumed 6,000 tons less than it did last year.

Between October and July of this year, Australians imported 9 percent less olive oil than during the same period last year, while import totals rose impressively in Brazil (26 percent), the United States (7 percent) and Canada (6 percent).

Comparing current olive oil prices to last year’s reveals, not surprisingly, much lower levels in Spain, and higher prices for Italian olive oil. Prices in Greece were level.

Recently, Italian prices have backed off recent record highs and Spanish olive oil prices saw a small rally when the European Commission announced limited aid for temporary private storage of olive oil surpluses.

If you are unable to view the report below (requires Adobe Flash), you can also find it here.
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This article was last updated October 12, 2011 - 10:32 AM (GMT-4)

Tags: import/export, International Olive Council (IOC), olive oil research
  • Richard G.

    Australia has one of the strongest performing economies in the world, with big growth in EVOO sales. So why the 9% drop of EU oils?

    • Brian Feldman

      Oh I don’t know. Maybe an all-out media war by the AOA? Just guessing.

      • Richard G.

        The sales and market share growth in Australian made EVOO has been sustained over a long period of time now. Well before the new standards were approved, and before a few television stories went to air (the tone of which I indicentally didn’t like).

        Also according to a leading market research company, importers of EU olive oil into Australia spend over 10x that of local producers on promotion/advertising.

        So maybe overall quality of the product may have a  bit to do with it as well?

        • Rwhelpdale

          Drop in EV imports is not reflected in Supermarket sales.  All EV continues to grow in volume sales in Aust..  i think it’s a timing issue.   

          • Richard G.

            That’s my point. Sales of EV continue to rise in Australia, but the market survey companies continue to report that most of the growth in the sector are being driven by domestic EV sales not imported.

  • Anonymous

    There may be another reason.  Oliveria increased sales to restaurants in Melboune by almost 100% in the past 12 months.  How?  Simple, producers reduced their prices in order to compete with the imports.  Oliveria passed on the reductions. It has also helped that some of the Aussie oils have won major competitions in the US and other places.  Oliveria has reduced its bulk imports of oil from Spain and Italy including agrumato and infused oils except for premium truffle infused oil from Italy.  I hated the accusatory tone of the adds too, but there is a certain closed-minded section of the population that buys into this scaremongering and it seems to have worked to an extent.  I like to think that the local oil we sell is just as good as the best imported and if the price is right…

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