Table Olive Production in Spain Rebounds, but Falls Short of Initial Expectations
Table olive proÂducÂtion in Spain is expected to increase by at least 20 perÂcent this year comÂpared to last year, with a proÂjected yield of 492,250 tons in 2024. Despite earÂlier optiÂmistic estiÂmates exceedÂing 500,000 tons, the foreÂcast was revised downÂward due to hot and dry weather conÂdiÂtions in August, affectÂing olive develÂopÂment and potenÂtially impactÂing prices and global trade.
Table olive proÂducÂtion in Spain is expected to grow by at least 20 perÂcent this year comÂpared to last year.
According to Interaceituna, the sector’s interÂproÂfesÂsional orgaÂniÂzaÂtion, Spain is proÂjected to proÂduce 492,250 tons of table olives in 2024, up from 408,790 tons in 2023.
The organization’s earÂlier estiÂmates, reported in July, were more optiÂmistic, proÂjectÂing a yield exceedÂing 500,000 tons.
See Also:Spanish Growers Eye Indian Market for Table OlivesThe foreÂcast was revised downÂward mainly because August was excepÂtionÂally hot and dry in most proÂducÂtion areas.
These weather conÂdiÂtions hinÂdered olive develÂopÂment, with smaller fruits often diverted to olive oil proÂducÂtion.
Interaceituna detailed how the most popÂuÂlar table olive culÂtiÂvars have perÂformed, with Manzanilla proÂducÂtion risÂing by 75 perÂcent comÂpared to 2023, the most sigÂnifÂiÂcant increase.
Hojiblanca, the most popÂuÂlar table olive variÂety, increased by 21 perÂcent to 235,850 tons comÂpared to the preÂviÂous year. However, proÂducÂtion was 8.4 perÂcent below the averÂage of the last four camÂpaigns.
Both Hojiblanca and Manzanilla are also widely used for olive oil proÂducÂtion.
The availÂabilÂity of table olives in Spain will impact the proÂducÂt’s price and global trade.
At a recent meetÂing orgaÂnized by Andalusian farmÂers and researchers in Arahal, the focus was on the chalÂlenges facÂing the table olive secÂtor.
Those include workÂforce shortÂages, mainÂtainÂing olive qualÂity amid cliÂmate change and the genÂerÂaÂtional tranÂsiÂtion needed to preÂserve Andalucia’s rural traÂdiÂtions.
Price variÂaÂtions of Spanish table olives in interÂnaÂtional marÂkets partly reflect these chalÂlenges.
According to International Olive Council figÂures, the price of 100 kiloÂgrams of Spanish table olives rose by 28 perÂcent in June 2024 comÂpared to the preÂviÂous seaÂson, reachÂing €431. However, export volÂumes in the same period declined by 14 perÂcent.
Notably, direct exports of Spanish table olives to the United States fell by 33 perÂcent in the last seaÂson, adding to the reducÂtion in recent years.
This trend is attribÂuted to the proÂlonged and comÂplex tarÂiff disÂpute between the two counÂtries.
According to IOC figÂures, the U.S. is the largest importer of table olives, with over 174,000 tons imported in the 2023/24 crop year, folÂlowed by Brazil with 135,000 tons.
The national Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food estiÂmates that table olive proÂducÂtion in 2023/24 is closÂing at 407,400 tons, slightly below the 414,120 tons reported in 2022/23.
In 2021/22, an excepÂtionÂally proÂducÂtive seaÂson, Spanish farms harÂvested 659,760 tons of olives for the table olive marÂket.
Spain is by far the largest proÂducer of table olives. IOC estiÂmates that Spain will account for 65 perÂcent of Europe’s total proÂducÂtion in 2023/24.
Spain is also the most relÂeÂvant table olives exporter. IOC figÂures show that Spanish table olive exports reached 306,947 tons in 2022/2023.
Greece folÂlowed with 186,815 tons exported durÂing the same period.
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