Spanish extra virgin olive oil prices fall as Deoleo sees crisis easing
Extra virgin olive oil prices have declined at five Spanish supermarket chains, with some offers below €5 at Mercadona, Carrefour and Dia. Deoleo says improving production and a more favorable outlook for the next campaign indicate that the worst of the price crisis has passed.
Supermarket prices move lower
Extra virgin olive oil prices are falling across five supermarket chains in Spain, offering consumers some relief after a period of exceptional pressure on the category. Offers below €5 have appeared at Mercadona, Carrefour and Dia, according to the information provided. Comparing prices among retailers can produce savings of as much as 30%, underlining the wide differences that remain between individual products, formats and sales channels.
The decline is commercially significant because supermarket shelves provide the clearest and most immediate measure of how changes in the olive oil market reach households. A price below €5 does not establish a single national benchmark: retail prices vary by package size, brand, quality, promotion and location. It nevertheless shows that lower-priced extra virgin olive oil has returned to major chains and that retailers are competing more actively for cost-conscious shoppers.
Deoleo says the most difficult period has passed
Deoleo, described as the world's largest olive oil producer, believes the most difficult stage of the crisis is now behind the industry. The company bases that assessment on improved production and a substantially more favorable outlook for the next campaign. Better availability can ease pressure throughout the chain, from packers and distributors to supermarkets and final consumers.
The producer's assessment is also relevant for processors and traders. When output improves, companies have more flexibility in procurement and inventory management, while retailers gain greater scope to reduce prices or use promotions. The current supermarket declines suggest that part of this improvement is already reaching the consumer market, although the information provided does not specify production volumes, wholesale quotations or the duration of the offers.
Competition shifts back toward price
For Spanish retailers, the return of extra virgin olive oil below €5 makes the product a stronger tool for attracting store traffic. Savings of up to 30% from comparison shopping mean consumers still face a fragmented price landscape rather than a uniform decline. Chains that secure competitive supplies can use olive oil to reinforce their value positioning, while brands and packers must decide how much of the improved supply situation to pass through.
For producers, the easing of the retail crisis is positive but does not by itself define the conditions of the next campaign. Deoleo's more favorable outlook points toward greater availability, yet the supplied material gives no forecast for harvest size or future prices. Market participants will therefore be watching whether sub-€5 offers become broadly available and sustained, or remain limited to selected products and promotions.
Implications for the olive oil chain
The combination of improving production expectations and falling shelf prices changes the immediate focus of the Spanish market. During the crisis, limited availability and high consumer prices dominated commercial decisions. As those pressures ease, competition among supermarkets, brands and processors can increasingly center on price, assortment and promotion.
The evidence so far is directional rather than definitive. Prices have fallen at five supermarkets, three major chains are offering extra virgin olive oil below €5, and comparison can save shoppers up to 30%. Deoleo considers the hardest period over, supported by better production and prospects for the next campaign. Whether that marks a lasting normalization will depend on how consistently improved supply moves through the value chain.
