Introduction
The International Agreement on Olive Oil and Table Olives, 2015, reaffirms the economic, social and environmental value of the olive sector and strengthens the role of the IOC as a platform for intergovernmental consultation on ways to improve the global olive economy.
To support this mission, the IOC collects and disseminates reliable data on the global olive oil and table olive markets, promotes international trade, and encourages consumption through market analysis, statistical reporting, economic research, seminars, workshops and targeted promotional campaigns. The IOC’s statistical and olive sector data section is available here.
The Economy and Promotion Unit leads a wide range of activities, including:
- Improving market transparency and supporting decision-making through established statistical and analytical work;
- Coordinating an annual expert meeting to assess market trends and share economic studies;
- Conducting promotional campaigns in non-member countries and awarding grants for promotional activities in member countries;
- Analysing national and international economic policies, including public interventions and trade agreements;
- Developing olive-sector country profiles to highlight the role of IOC Members in the global economy;
- Organising workshops on priority themes to deepen understanding of market issues;
- Supporting international initiatives such as World Olive Day, media visits, scientific and diplomatic outreach, and the creation of promotional materials.
In expanding its scope, the Unit is also addressing current challenges related to sustainability, value-chain analysis and the impact of climate change—reaffirming its commitment to sharing knowledge and enhancing the olive sector’s global visibility.
Market Statistics
The Economy and Promotion Unit leads the IOC’s monitoring and updating of the world olive oil and table olive market. When visiting its statistics section, users can find data on the production, consumption, imports and exports of olive oil and table olives since the 1990/1991 crop year.
Country Profiles
The IOC is currently updating its olive oil and table olive country profiles for Member States.
These revised profiles will provide up-to-date information on national production, consumption, trade, and market structures. They will be published on this page shortly.
Promotion Campaigns
One of the IOC Economy and Promotion Unit’s key initiatives is conducting promotion campaigns in non-member countries, aimed at educating consumers and professionals about the benefits and quality standards of olive oil and table olives. These campaigns help build lasting ties between the local market, producers, importers and national authorities.
As a non-profit organisation, the IOC conducts brand-neutral campaigns aimed at promoting the olive oil category as a whole. Once a campaign is approved and budgeted, the IOC issues a call for tenders to select a local promotional agency responsible for implementing the campaign under its supervision. These initiatives are co-designed with national authorities to ensure local relevance and maximise their impact. Although campaigns are fully funded by the IOC, institutional support—such as providing venues for training sessions—is highly appreciated, though not obligatory.
Countries that have recently benefited from these campaigns include the USA (2017–2019), China (2018–2020), Japan (2019–2020), Australia (2022–2024) and Brazil (2024–2027, ongoing).
Grants for Promotion Activities
Each year, the IOC allocates grants to institutions in its member countries to support activities with strong promotional value. These grants are intended to foster initiatives that align with the goals of the International Agreement on Olive Oil and Table Olives, 2015, particularly in terms of promoting the international quality standards of olive oil and table olives, enhancing product knowledge and supporting sectoral development.
To this end, the IOC launches an annual call for tenders, inviting eligible institutions in member countries to submit proposals. The grants have supported a wide range of projects, including national olive oil fairs, technical workshops, educational seminars in schools and universities, sensory analysis training sessions, and public campaigns highlighting the health benefits of olive oil.
Through this funding mechanism, the IOC aims to build greater public awareness, improve consumer understanding and encourage informed choices, thereby contributing to the sustainable growth of the olive sector.
Studies & Seminars
Since its establishment in 1959, the IOC has conducted numerous studies and seminars on a range of subjects relating to the olive oil and table olive sector. A selection of historical, past activities is listed below.
To request access to any of the studies, please contact: iooc@internationaloliveoil.org
List of Studies and Seminars
- International Consumer Behaviour Study (2020–2022)
- Sentiment Analysis of Olive Oil (2022)
- Consumer Behaviour Study in Spain (2022)
- International Olive Oil Production Costs Study (2015)
- The Value Chain and Price Formation in the Spanish Olive Oil Industry (2010)
- The Olive Oil Value Chain: International Prospects and Challenges (2010)
- The Table Olive Chain in Spain (2010)
- Business Strategies in the Olive Oil Sector and Their Impact on the Value Chain (2010)
- International Seminar on Geographical Indications in the Olive Oil and Table Olive Sector (2010)
