Headline: Turkey Embarks on New Season with Ambitious Goal of Exporting 200,000 Tons of Olive Oil and 100,000 Tons of Table Olives

Over the past two decades, Turkey has risen to the top in the world for table olive production and solidified its position as the second-largest producer of olive oil globally, thanks to significant investments in the olive sector. The country has entered a historic season, anticipating the production of 475,000 tons of olive oil and 750,000 tons of table olives. Emre Uygun, Chairman of the Aegean Olive and Olive Oil Exporters' Association (EZZİB), stated that Turkey reached historical production peaks in the 2024/25 season with 750,000 tons of table olives and 475,000 tons of olive oil. He emphasized that this historic yield necessitates breaking records in exports, aiming to export 200,000 tons of olive oil and 100,000 tons of table olives in the 2024/25 season to generate $1 billion in foreign exchange revenue. The goal is to increase annual exports to $1.5 billion within the next five years.

A sectoral trade mission to the U.S. is scheduled for March 3-8, 2025, targeting the second-largest global market for olive oil. Uygun noted plans to actively participate in international trade fairs such as the Summer Fancy Food Show and Expo West in the United States, Foodex in Japan, and the China International Import Expo to promote Turkish olives and olive oil. He also expressed satisfaction with the inclusion of Turkish olives and olive oil in the TURQUALITY Project, which promotes Turkish food products in the United States.

During a press conference at the Aegean Exporters' Association, Uygun shared the export targets for the olive sector and reviewed the 2023/24 season. For the first time, table olive exports exceeded $200 million. Uygun reported that in the 2023/24 season, exports of green olives were 17,000 tons, generating $47 million, with Germany, Iraq, and the U.S. being the top buyers. Black olive exports reached 60,000 tons, valued at $162 million, with Germany, Iraq, and Romania as the largest markets. The total table olive exports amounted to 78,000 tons, yielding $210 million in revenue, with a 46% increase in average unit price.

However, the 2023/24 season saw a decline in olive oil exports due to quotas and restrictions on bulk and barreled shipments. By the end of September, olive oil exports were at 65,000 tons, generating $470 million, with an average export price increase of 51% per kilogram. The top markets were the U.S., Spain, and Italy. Uygun highlighted a 25% reduction in total exports due to prolonged export restrictions and fund cuts.

The olive oil sector seeks duty-free exports to the UK, following the ongoing Free Trade Agreement negotiations between the UK and Turkey after Brexit. Uygun pointed out that the UK, consuming 80,000 tons of olive oil annually, currently sources from the EU and advocated for lifting tariffs to establish a strong market there. He also called the 100-ton quota for Turkey's olive oil exports to the EU "tragicomic" and urged an increase to 30,000 tons.