The International Olive Council anticipates a substantial surge in Turkey’s olive oil exports, projecting a yield of over 420,000 tons of olive oil. This remarkable growth can be attributed to Turkey’s extraordinary harvest in the 2022 season. Can Candeger, a managing partner at Artem Oliva, a leading Turkish olive oil manufacturer, cites factors such as competitive pricing, heightened brand recognition, and superior product quality as contributing to the increase in exports. The escalating global demand for nutritious food has further propelled Turkey’s olive oil exports, with companies like Artem Oliva playing a significant role in the market expansion.
The International Olive Council (IOC) has predicted that Turkey will see a massive increase in olive oil exports in 2022, reaching approximately 134,000 tons. This is over triple the average quantity exported over the past five years. The reason behind this growth is the exceptional harvest Turkey experienced, producing over 420,000 tons of olive oil.
Compared to the previous year’s export of 58,000 tons, Turkey’s olive oil exports are expected to nearly triple. Mustafa Tan, the leader of Turkey’s National Olive and Olive Oil Council (UZZK), supports the IOC’s estimate, attributing part of this growth to a significant decrease in global olive oil production.
Despite Turkey facing earthquake-related challenges, the country continues producing and marketing olive oil. Several factors are contributing to the anticipated record-high exports this year. One key factor is the gap in the global olive oil market that needs to be filled. Additionally, Spain, a major olive oil producer, experienced a poor harvest this year, creating further opportunities for Turkey.
Can Candeger, a manager at Artem Oliva, a prominent Turkish olive oil company, believes that greater awareness of Turkish olive oil brands, high-quality production, and competitive pricing have contributed to the increase in exports. The growing global interest in healthy food has also significantly boosted Turkey’s olive oil exports.
Candeger points out that the demand for olive oil is increasing among individual consumers and food companies seeking healthier ingredients. Healthy eating has increased for the past three years, further fueling the demand for olive oil.
Davut Er, the president of the Aegean Exporters’ Associations (EIB), suggests that Europe should turn to Turkish olive oil this season due to Spain’s poor harvest. He contends that the European Union needs Turkish olive oil and should explore alternative markets to meet its demand.
Olive Oil Export to Other Countries
However, some individuals argue that there are significant challenges in exporting Turkish olive oil to other countries. They maintain that the primary objective should be to support Turkey’s olive growers in increasing their income. These individuals’ express concerns that the global economic crisis and tight market restrictions may impact Turkey’s ability to export large quantities of olive oil.
Despite these concerns, there is hope that Turkey can successfully export a significant amount of olive oil and share the profits with the farmers who need financial support. Mustafa Tan, the head of the UZZK, has urged the Turkish government not to restrict olive oil exports this year. He believes it presents an excellent opportunity for Turkey to generate more revenue from olive oil exports and aid their olive growers.
In response to the booming olive oil industry, the Turkish government and private sector have also focused on investing in research and development, agricultural technology, and marketing strategies further to support the growth of the olive oil industry. These efforts aim to strengthen Turkey’s position in the global market and ensure the long-term success of the country’s olive oil producers and exporters.