News Briefs
Feb. 10, 2026
Weeks of Rain and Flooding Slow Spain’s Olive Harvest, Threatening Output Targets
Spain’s olive harvest has been disrupted by weeks of rain and storms, prompting AEMO to trim its 2025/26 production outlook to about 1.2 million tons and warn of a lower share of extra virgin olive oil.
Feb. 6, 2026
Morocco’s Olive Harvest Races Ahead as Rain, Cold and Labor Shortages Tighten the Window
Moroccan growers are accelerating the harvest after a delayed start and weeks of rain and cold. Labor shortages and higher wages are squeezing timelines even as extraction rates rise and retail olive oil prices fall.
Feb. 6, 2026
European Table Olive Groups Push Back on EU-Mercosur Tariff Terms
Spanish, Italian and Greek table olive associations say EU-Mercosur terms would phase out duties on Mercosur olives entering Europe while leaving tariffs on European exports to South America in place.
Feb. 4, 2026
Jordan Expands Tunisian Olive Oil Imports as Drought Squeezes Local Supply
Jordan has approved imports of 10,000 tons of Tunisian olive oil as the country faces sharply reduced production following prolonged drought.
Feb. 2, 2026
Global Olive Oil Quality Takes Center Stage as 2026 NYIOOC Results Begin
With results from the 2026 NYIOOC starting to roll out earlier than usual, the global olive oil sector is watching closely as award-winning producers gain valuable recognition at a critical point in the commercial season.
Jan. 27, 2026
Olive Oil Times Sommelier Certificate Program Returns to London in March
The Olive Oil Times Education Lab will host its five-day Sommelier Certificate Program in London from March 9 to 13, offering immersive instruction in olive oil sensory analysis, production, health, culinary applications and quality assessment.
Jan. 22, 2026 News Briefs
Jan. 22, 2026 News Briefs
Study Finds Extra Virgin Olive Oil Improves Vascular Function in Hyperlipidemia Patients
Jan. 20, 2026 News Briefs
Jan. 20, 2026 News Briefs
EU Audit Finds Gaps in Olive Oil Controls Despite Strong Regulatory Framework
Jan. 20, 2026 News Briefs
Spain Announces Expanded Anti-Fraud Controls for Olive Oil Sector
Jan. 14, 2026
USDA Forecasts Modest Decline in EU Olive Oil Production
A new USDA report forecasts a modest drop in EU olive oil output, citing heat, drought and pest pressure across key producing regions.
Jan. 14, 2026
United States Moves to Withdraw from UN Climate Treaty
The United States has announced plans to withdraw from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, marking an unprecedented step away from global climate cooperation.
Jan. 9, 2026
U.S. Dietary Guidelines Put Olive Oil and Table Olives at the Center of Healthy Eating
New U.S. dietary guidelines highlight olive oil and table olives as essential components of a healthy diet, drawing praise from industry groups and skepticism from some health experts.
Jan. 7, 2026
Olive Pit Biochar Shows Promise as Low-Carbon Alternative in Concrete Production
Researchers in Spain are testing biochar made from olive pits as a replacement for sand in concrete, a move that could significantly reduce carbon emissions from construction.
Jan. 5, 2026
EU Delays Mercosur Trade Deal After Italy and France Withhold Support
The European Union has postponed signing its Mercosur free trade agreement after Italy and France declined to back the deal, citing concerns from domestic farmers.
Jan. 5, 2026
Early Data Points to Weaker Olive Oil Production Across Andalusia
Farmers across Andalusia are reporting lower olive harvests and weaker oil yields early in the 2025/26 season, raising fresh doubts about Spain’s production outlook.
Jan. 5, 2026
Europe’s Olive Oil Sector Poised for Recovery Despite Climate and Market Pressures
The European Union’s latest Agricultural Outlook projects a recovery in olive oil production driven by higher yields and orchard modernization, even as climate stress and declining consumption pose long-term challenges.
Dec. 1, 2025
COP30 Ends Without Fossil Fuel Phase-Out as Global Divide Widens
COP30 concluded in Brazil’s Amazon without a commitment to phase out fossil fuels, exposing a widening global divide as more than 80 nations pushed for a roadmap that oil-producing states firmly rejected.
Dec. 1, 2025
Spanish Farmers Urge Halt to Tunisian Olive Oil Imports Amid Traceability Concerns
Spain’s COAG farmers’ union is urging an immediate suspension of Tunisian olive oil imports, warning that large untraced volumes are entering the EU market and distorting prices.
Nov. 26, 2025
Global Olive Oil Production Hits Record 3.5 Million Tons
A new report forecasts global olive oil production at a record 3.507 million tons for 2024/25, driven by strong recovery in Spain and rising output in non-EU countries.
Nov. 26, 2025
Spain Asks U.S. to Remove Olive Oil Tariffs
Spain’s economy minister has asked the U.S. to exempt olive oil from its new 15 percent tariff, warning that the measure risks deepening pressures on producers and distorting the world’s second-largest olive oil market.
Nov. 21, 2025
Revisions Advance for U.S. Olive Oil Promotion Cooperative Plan
A revised plan for a U.S. olive oil promotion cooperative is moving forward as USDA asks for clearer mechanisms to support domestic producers and streamline administration.
Nov. 21, 2025
Somontano Secures PDO Status, Boosting Traditional Producers in Aragón
Producers in Aragón are celebrating the new PDO for Aceite del Somontano, which protects native olive varieties and centuries-old terraced groves shaped by the Pyrenees.
Nov. 17, 2025
Pakistan Establishes National Olive Council
A new National Olive Council will guide Pakistan’s fast-growing sector, as officials push to align with global standards and join the International Olive Council.
Nov. 17, 2025
French Lawmakers Advance Plan to Make Nutri-Score Mandatory
A new vote in the French National Assembly has revived efforts to make Nutri-Score mandatory, triggering debate over exemptions for traditional products and concerns about conflicts with EU rules.