Introduction
The distinctive geographical, economic and social features of olive growing highlighted in the 2015 International Agreement on Olive Oil and Table Olives underlie the economic objectives assigned to the International Olive Council. These objectives include expanding international trade, working to achieve a smooth world olive oil market and drawing up norms and procedures for international trading in olive oil and table olives.
The Economy and Promotion Unit of the IOC Executive Secretariat helps to achieve these objectives by carrying out the following activities:
- Market-related activities
- Activities relating to IOC work
- Activities relating to the IOC Executive Secretariat
Market-related activites
- Regular market tracking and analysis (markets for olive oils, olive-pomace oils, table olives, other oils and fats). This work involves:
- Updating and processing the IOC statistical database on the world markets for olive oils, table olives and for other fluid edible vegetable oils and fats.
- Reviewing market conditions.
- Tracking olive oil and table olive imports by the countries where the IOC conducts promotional activities.
- Conducting retrospective and prospective studies on the olive oil and table olive market.
- Monitoring national policies, with the focus on:
- Tracking national olive acreage and geographical distribution of world olive resources.
- Tracking policy measures concerning production, marketing, domestic consumption and international trade in olive products and other national developmental policies.
- Tracking bilateral or multilateral agreements between countries on trading in olive oils and table olives.
- Implementing the measures agreed upon by the World Trade Organisation for market access, domestic support arrangements, the reduction of subsidies and special clauses.
- Monitoring economic surveys, studies and research on the olive/olive oil sector carried out by research and development agencies.
Activities relating to IOC work
- Preparation of working documents describing and analysing economic conditions on the olive oil and table olive markets, which are then examined by the IOC at its sessions.
- Carrying out of market research and other economic analysis and statistical work on the olive/olive sector requested by the IOC Members.
Activities relating to the IOC Executive Secretariat
- Regular contribution of sectoral analysis articles for the IOC magazine, OLIVAE, and review of economic manuscripts submitted by outside authors.
Figures
World Olive Oil and Table olive Figures
Once a year the IOC updates series of world statistics on production, imports, exports and consumption. The series available on this page show the world data from the 1990/91 olive crop year, itemised by country. The term olive crop year means the period from 1 October to 30 September for olive oil and from 1 September to 31 August for table olive.
The statistics are presented in three separate groups. The first covers the producing countries that are mainly exporters, the second concerns the producing countries that are mainly importers, and the third is for to countries that are importers only.
World Olive Oil
*Click below for statistical series.
World Table Olive Figures
*Click below for statistical series.
Prices & balances
EU Producer prices
To help shed light on the international market situation, the IOC tracks the movements in the producer prices of extra virgin olive oil, refined olive oil and refined olive-pomace oil on representative markets inside the European Union. As these markets account for a large share of world production, the production prices paid on them have a significant bearing on prices elsewhere.
Downloads
Approved balances
At its yearly session the IOC closely examines the situation of the olive oil and table olive markets and makes an overall estimate of the supplies of and demand for olive oils and table olives. To do so, it uses the information provided by each IOC member, as well as data supplied by non-member governments and any other relevant statistical material available.
Click below for the key figures on the world markets for olive oil and table olive as compiled at the 120th session of the Council of Members, Madrid, Spain, November 2024.
Exports & imports
To help shed light on the international market situation, the IOC tracks exports and imports on representative markets.
Lists of exporters/importers
List of Exporters/Importers of Olive Oils and Olive-Pomace Oils
Last updated: December 2017
Lists of exporters/importers of table olives
Country profiles
Overview of the olive and olive oil sector itemised by country and based on the official replies to IOC questionnaires
Last update: 17 October 2012
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| Lebanon | available soon | disponible prochainement |
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Studies & seminars
** International Olive Oil production costs study
Studies
The Economy and Promotion Unit monitor economic surveys, studies and research on the olive/olive oil sector carried out by research and development agencies. On the other hand carry out of market research and other economic analysis and statistical work on the olive/olive sector requested by the IOC Members.
INTERNATIONAL CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR STUDY
To analyse the changes and trends in the consumption of olive oil in IOC member and non-member countries the IOC launched a study in the 2020 year that covered Spain, Italy and Greece, countries where consumption has fallen sharply. In 2021, it covered Argentina, Egypt, Tunisia and Jordan. In 2022, the study will be completed and other countries will be studied.
International olive oil production costs study
The objective of this study goes beyond merely determining the cost of producing one kilogram of olive oil in the IOC member countries. Its core aim is to help olive growers to identify the stages of crop management where they are less competitive than others and to encourage them to apply strategies to improve their competitiveness, for instance through technical assistance schemes.
** International Olive Oil production costs study
The IOC Executive Secretariat wishes to thank the Ministry of Environmental, Rural and Maritime Affairs of Spain for the authorisation to release the study on the Value Chain and Price Formation in the Spanish Olive Oil Industry, carried out by the Spanish Olive Oil Agency for the Food Prices Observatory.
The study has been translated into English and French for worldwide release due to its interest to the olive industry.
Seminars
International seminar on geographical indications
in the olive oil and table olive sector
Villa San Giovanni, RC (Italy), 21 October 2010
Presentations
- Introduction by Mohammed Ouhmad Sbitri, Executive Director, IOC (version en français).
- Introduction by Mohammed Ouhmad Sbitri, Executive Director, IOC (English version).
- Opening remarks by Marcello Zimbone, Preside, Facoltà di Agraria, Università Mediterranea della Calabria, Italy.
- Market for origin-labelled olive oils and table olives by Marina Testu, Chef de Groupe Marketing Développement RHF, Lesieur, France.
1ST PANEL – Legal protection of olives and table olives with a GI in the main producing and consuming markets:
Presentation of the main elements of the IOC-commissioned study on the legal framework for the protection of GIs by David Thual, Insight Consulting, Belgium.
* International and bilateral framework for the protection of GIs
- Multilateral negotiations at WTO by Antony Taubman, Director, Intellectual Property Division, WTO.
- Multilateral negotiations at WIPO by Matthijs Geuze, Head, International Appellations of Origin Registry, WIPO.
- GIs from the point of view of Argentina by Gabriela Catalani, Asesora Técnica, Dirección de Relaciones Agroalimentarias Internacionales, Argentina.
- GIs from the point of view of the EU by Pavlos Dimitriou, European Commission, EU.
2ND PANEL – How GIs are implemented in the olive oil and table olive sector:
Presentation of the findings of the IOC-commissioned study on existing and potential GIs by David Thual and Fanny Lossy, Insight Consulting, Belgium.
* Case studies:
- EU experience: GIs produced in a small and large geographical area by José Manuel Bajo Prados, Coordinador, Sectorial Nacional del Aceite de Oliva Virgen con DO, Spain.
- Morocco’s experience in protecting an olive oil GI by Khadija Bendriss, Chef de la Division de la Labellisation, Morocco.
- Turkey’s experience in protecting an olive oil GI by Hakan Kiziltepe, trademark examiner, Turkey
- Tunisia’s work in establishing GIs in the olive sector by Samira Sifi, Chargée des dénominations d’origine, Tunisia.
- Establishing GIs in Israel’s olive sector: now and in the future by Zohar Kerem, food chemist, Israel.
- Establishing GIs in Albania’s olive sector: now and in the future by Elena Kokthi, Head of Analyses, Monitoring and Evaluation, Albania.
TECHNICAL-LEGAL STUDY ON GEOGRAPHICAL DESIGNATIONS FOR OLIVE OIL AND TABLE OLIVES:
- Technical-legal study on GIs
- Annex I – Bilateral and multilateral negociations on GIs
- Annex II – Aims of protection
- Annex III – Summary of the legislations
- Annex IV – List of protected GIs and ID card
- Annex V – review of the specifications – France
- Annex V – review of the specifications – Greece
- Annex V – review of the specifications – Italy
- Annex V – review of the specifications – Morocco
- Annex V – review of the specifications – Portugal
- Annex V – review of the specifications – Slovenia
- Annex V – review of the specifications – Spain
- Annex V – review of the specifications – Turkey
- Annex VI – List Potencial Members
- Annex VI – List of potential GIs in non IOC members
Economic Affairs & Promotion Unit
What does it do
Draw up promotional activity programmes in consultation with its member countries.
Organize educational and awareness creation activities relating to olive oil and IOC standards.
Conduct the implementation of prospective market research .
Coordinate campaign to promote olive products and IOC standards.
Support promotional activities on the domestic markets of traditional producing and consuming Member countries, by allowing grants.
Disseminate scientific research results on the health properties of olive oil and table olives.
Coordinate the organization of the Olive Oil Day.
Produce information and promotion material.
Participate in promotional and scientific events worldwide.
Evaluate promotion campaigns.
Activities
- Realize Promotion Campaigns in 3rd Counties
- Coordinate the Award for Grants to IOC Member Countries
- Conduct the implementation of Market Studies
- Organize Tenders for Production of Promotion Material
Past market research
Studies on the promotion of Consumption of olive Oil and Table Olives in:
Campaigns & Events
Promotion Material
The International Olive Council produces a wide range of information and educational material, printed and audio-visual, for use at its own events and for wider distribution on the markets where it runs its promotional campaigns.
The IOC participates not only in grant-aided events but also in other promotional events connected with the olive world such as workshops, seminars, fairs, scientific events etc.
These give it a chance to network with trade and industry representatives, producer associations and public and private bodies in the member countries. By listening to the points of view of people in the business in the producer countries, it gleans first-hand knowledge to help it plans its activities better and to heighten their consumer impact.
PROMOTION PROGRAMMES IN NON-IOC COUNTRIES
WHAT FOR?
The purpose of these programmes is:
- to promote the consumption of olive products, the expansion of international trade of olive oil and table olives and information in relation to the trade standards of the International Olive Council;
- to support international and regional activities encouraging the dissemination of generic scientific information on the nutritional, health and other properties of olive oil and table olives with a view to improving consumer information;
- to examine the world balances for olive oil, pomace oils and table olives, undertake studies and propose appropriate measures;
- to disseminate economic data and analyses on olive oil and table olives and provide members with the indicators necessary to contribute to the smooth functioning of the olive products market;
- to disseminate and use the results of research and development programmes linked to olive growing and study their applicability in increasing production efficiency.
HOW?
Although campaign implementation is assigned primarily to external agencies, the IOC Executive Secretariat retains permanent control of campaign contents, methods and timing, impact assessment and updating and focus of campaign targets. IOC personnel participate actively as control/support officers, speakers and information sources at each scheduled campaign event.
PROMOTION IN IOC PRODUCER COUNTRIES
WHAT FOR?
In the framework of promotion activities, The IOC awards grants to finance programme for the celebration of the World Olive Day in the IOC member Countries.
The objective of the grants is to provide financial support for initiatives aimed at celebrating World Olive Day as a joint action in all IOC member Countries.
Proposed initiatives must dovetail with the following objectives:
- include a press conference or similar event designed to publicise World Olive Day as widely as possible. The Executive Secretariat will provide an official declaration to this aim, for release in all the member countries;
In addition, they may feature supporting events or activities such as:
- seminars, trade fairs or symposiums showcasing the relationship between olive products and health, olive growing and environment, the history of olive growing, the olive economy, etc.
- production of promotional material (brochures, CD, books, etc.)
- the invitation of international experts to take part in the planned activity.
HOW?
Calls for Grant Proposals
Since 2008, the IOC awards grants for promotional and scientific events. According to the IOC Financial Regulation, grants must not represent more than 50% of the cost of the co-financed activity.
HOW TO APPLY?
a Call for proposal is published at mid February on IOC WEB (grants)
PRODUCTION OF INFORMATION AND PROMOTION MATERIAL:
The International Olive Council produces a wide range of information and educational material, printed and audio-visual, for use at its own events and for wider distribution on the markets where it runs its promotional campaigns.
PAST IOC PROMOTION CAMPAIGNS IN NON-IOC COUNTRIES
In the past, the IOC has carried out institutional promotion on a spread of markets (see list) according to an agreed geographical allocation where the EU conducted promotion in its Member States while the IOC did so outside the EU.
It has also conducted prospective market research and studies to evaluate the impact of past campaigns.
PAST IOC TARGET MARKETS
- Australia
- Brazil
- Canada
- China
- India
- Japan
- Thailand
- Taiwan
- United States
Promotion noticeboard
Declaracion
Date changed: 30.11.2016
ADJUDICACION DE CONTRATO
Date changed: 03.11.2011
2011 SURVEY ABOUT THE PROMOTION OF OLIVE OIL VORLDWIDE
Date changed: 03.11.2011
ACTIVIDADES CAMPAÑAS DE PROMOCION
Date changed: 03.11.2011
