Double Feast in the Olive Oil Sector Ban on Bulk Olive Oil Exports Lifted

The restriction imposed on the export of bulk olive oil in March 2022 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry on the grounds of ensuring food supply security was lifted as of 7 July 2022. Olive oil exporters enjoyed a double holiday.

Emphasizing that they expressed that the ban on olive oil exports in packages over 5 kg in 2021 and 2022 was a wrong decision in every environment, Aegean Olive and Olive Oil Exporters' Union President Davut Er, on Wednesday, 6 July 2022, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Dr. Nihat PAKDİL, General Manager of Food and Control, Dr. Durali KOÇAK and General Manager of Herbal Production Dr. Mehmet HASDEMİR stated that they once again conveyed their demands for the lifting of the ban with their justifications, and that the ban was lifted on July 7 at the Ministry.

According to Turkey's National Olive and Olive Oil Council data; Pointing out that they entered the 2021/22 season with 48 thousand tons of stock and an estimated yield of 235 thousand tons, President Er said, “Turkey's annual olive oil consumption is around 150 thousand tons. We emphasized on the first day of the ban decision that we have around 130-140 thousand tons of olive oil that can be exported under these conditions. We are entering the new season with a stock that can be exported between 90-100 thousand tons. Next year is the year of olive oil. There will be no problem in the supply of products for both export and domestic consumption. Therefore, the lifting of the ban was a very accurate decision for both our producers and exporters. Our Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, who took this decision, Prof. Dr. We would like to thank everyone who contributed, especially Vahit Kirişçi.”

Reminding that Turkey has made great investments in the olive sector in the last 20 years, EZZİB President Davut Er continued his words as follows: “Our Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has increased our olive tree assets from 90 million to 190 million. When these trees become fully productive, we aim for a yield of 650 thousand tons of olive oil and 1 million 200 thousand tons of table olives. In order for this harvest to turn into added value, export channels must be constantly open. The restriction on olive oil exports should be removed from the minds.”

EZZİB President Davut Er, Vice President M. Kadri Gündeş, Board Member Güngör Şarman and EİB Deputy Secretary General Serap Ünal attended the Ankara contacts of the Aegean Olive and Olive Oil Exporters' Association.

Olive oil exports increased despite the ban

In the 1/2021 olive oil export season, which started on November 2021, 22, Turkey achieved a foreign exchange return of 8 million 36 thousand dollars in return for the export of 797 thousand 124 tons of olive oil in the 798-month period. In the same period of the 2020/21 season, olive oil exports were 28 thousand 504 tons on amount and 82 million 751 thousand dollars in foreign currency income.

While olive oil exports increased by 29 percent on amount basis, the increase in foreign exchange income reached 51 percent.

While the United States was the country with the highest demand for Turkish olive oil with a demand of 46,5 million dollars, Japan ranked second with an export of 10 million dollars. to Spain; Olive oil worth 8,6 million dollars was exported.