Olive oil is one of the most widely used and sought-after culinary oils in the world. It is used in many types of dishes, from salads to cooking meats and vegetables. As a result, it’s no surprise that the global production volume of olive oil is a topic of interest for many. So how much olive oil is made each year?
According to the latest data from [1], in 2021/22, the global production volume of olive oil amounted to approximately 3.27 million metric tons. However, the production is forecast to decrease in 2022/23. These figures suggest that the demand for olive oil is high, and a valuable commodity in the culinary world.
The International Olive Council (IOC) is an intergovernmental organization that regulates the olive oil industry. According to [2], in the 2020/21 crop year, the IOC countries produced 2,809,500 tons of olive oil. This accounts for 93.3% of the world total. The European Union (EU) produced 2,051,200 tons of olive oil, with Spain leading the pack at 1,389,000 tons. Italy, Greece, and Portugal also contributed significantly to the overall production numbers.
Greece, in particular, is known for its production of olive oil. According to [3], Greece produced an average of 344,615 tons of olive oil from 1993-2014. These impressive statistics make it the third-largest olive oil producer. Approximately 60% of the total cultivated land in Greece is used to grow olives and is a significant contributor to the Greek economy. This is a tremendous source of pride for the country. Italy and the United States are the biggest importers of Greek olive oil, followed by Canada, Japan, Australia, and China [2].Other countries that produce significant amounts of olive oil include Morocco, Turkey, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, and Syria.
In terms of overall production, the top ten olive oil producing countries in 2023 are: Spain, Italy, Morocco, Turkey, Greece, Egypt, Portugal, Tunisia, Algeria, and Syria, in that order [3].
