Spain's imports of Moroccan olive oil jump almost ninetyfold in first half of 2026
Spanish purchases of Moroccan olive oil rose from about €641,000 in the first half of 2025 to close to €58 million a year later, according to Spanish Ministry of Economy data cited by al-Ain. Volumes moved from roughly 300 kilograms to about 19 tonnes. Spain produces more than 40% of the world's olive oil, but its 2025-2026 crop was weak while Morocco is in an expansionary cycle.
Spain increased its imports of Moroccan olive oil almost ninetyfold in the first half of 2026, according to Spanish Ministry of Economy data cited by al-Ain. The value of Spanish purchases rose from around €641,000 in the first six months of 2025 to close to €58 million in the same period of this year.
The reported volumes moved from about 300 kilograms to roughly 19 tonnes. al-Ain put the increase at 8,945%, while febrayer described the year-on-year rise as close to 9,000%. Neither publication reconciles the value and volume figures: €58 million for 19 tonnes implies a unit price far above any quoted olive oil market level, and the gap is left unexplained in both reports.
- Import value: from about €641,000 in January-June 2025 to about €58 million in January-June 2026.
- Import volume: from about 300 kilograms to about 19 tonnes.
- Growth: 8,945% according to al-Ain, close to 9,000% according to febrayer.
A weak Spanish crop against a Moroccan surplus
Spain is the world's largest producer of olives and olive oil, accounting for more than 40% of global output, according to the International Olive Council (IOC). Sources in the Spanish olive sector quoted by al-Ain said the 2025-2026 crop, which begins in October, was weak in Spain, while Morocco is passing through a surplus and an expansionary production cycle.
Morocco has spent years expanding its olive plantings in an effort to position itself among the more specialised producing countries. Other major producers, including Italy, Turkey and Tunisia, are competing in the same markets to close the gap with Spain.
Margins rather than shortage
Agricultural analysis carried by Spanish media and reported by febrayer suggests that turning to Moroccan oil can give some operators in the distribution chain better commercial margins, particularly where price differentials and supply conditions allow. A significant share of Spanish output, especially extra virgin olive oil, is directed to export markets where demand for Spanish product is strong.
On that reading, imports are not necessarily a sign of a domestic production gap. They can also reflect cost, pricing, supply chain structure and the ability of operators to capture higher margins. The volumes involved remain small next to the size of Spanish production and consumption, but febrayer argued that the pace of growth points to a change in the pattern of trade between the two countries.
Prices split between production centres
Price data cited by al-Ain showed a clear divergence between the main production hubs. At the Spanish centre of Jaén, extra virgin olive oil rose to €378.5 per 100 kilograms, while the Italian region of Bari recorded a 41.8% fall in producer prices, settling at €565.
Trade flows elsewhere have continued to expand. IOC data showed Brazilian imports stable at around 80,000 tonnes, with the first six months of the previous crop year up 40.5%. Across main markets, olive oil imports rose 4.3% and table olive imports rose 5.6% between September 2025 and March 2026.
Promotion effort continues
The IOC has opened applications for its 2026 promotional activities project, with events due to start next month. The council is also expanding cooperation with universities through the Olive Health Information System (OHIS) and working with the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) on the place of olives and olive oil in contemporary cooking.
