Laurence Dollimore
BULK sales of olive oil from Spain to the US have skyrocketed, new figures show.
In 2007, 16% of 113,000 tons of olive oil – mostly from Spain – arrived in bulk containers, but last year that figure had increased to more than 42% of 331,368 tons.
The figures, released by the International Olive Council (IOC), reflect the rising popularity of olive oil.
Spain accounted for 62% of bulk imports last year, while Italy’s share of the burgeoning large container market was just 4%.
Spain’s dominance in the smaller container market has also surged at the expense of Italy’s.
In 2007, Spain supplied just 9% of the small container market, but it has now grown to account for 25%.
Meanwhile, Italy, which once accounted for two-thirds of olive oil imported in bottles and tins, now only accounts for a third.
This will soon stop when Donald Trump imposes a import tax of 35% onto olive oil from Spain and Italy.
Good for Europeans as the internal EU price drops due to the surplus of olive oil in europe.
The leader in olive oil has always been Spain, but for unknown circunstances distribution is in foreing hands , Italy and now Deoleo spanish in theory although owned by foreign funds. Similar to Argentine´s meat and wheat, Those who own the market and distributión, get more profit out of the product.
Portuguese olive oil is second to none. But it almost never available outside Portugal. The oil by law is labeled with acidity. Fantastic oils from many kinds of olives far any purpose or taste.