Spanish table olive exports fall 9% as Egypt and Turkey gain ground

Export volume and revenue decline

Spanish table olive exports decreased by 9% in volume between September 1 and April 30 compared with the same period of the previous season. The decline reached 17% against the average of the preceding four seasons, according to Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food foreign-trade data cited by Olimerca and reported by AgroNews Castilla y León.

Export revenue fell by 6%, a smaller contraction than the decline in physical shipments. The unit value of exports increased by 3% from the previous season and stood 28% above the average of the past four seasons. The figures indicate that higher prices partly supported revenue but did not offset the loss of sales volume in Spain’s principal foreign markets.

EU and US purchases weaken

The reduction was concentrated primarily in the European Union and the United States, Spain’s two largest destinations for table olives. Lower purchases in both markets affected the core of the industry’s international business during the first eight months of the season under review.

Shipments to the Middle East also declined, with the source linking the contraction to instability in the region. The combination of weaker demand in the EU and the US and reduced access to Middle Eastern buyers limited the international movement of Spanish table olives over the period.

Egypt and Turkey expand their presence

Egyptian and Turkish suppliers are increasing their presence in destinations traditionally served by Spain. Spanish operators compete with producers whose labor, sustainability and food-safety cost structures differ significantly, allowing some rival origins to offer lower prices.

Spain’s table olive industry has faced production costs above those of several major competitors for four consecutive seasons. Domestic companies must meet comparatively demanding labor, environmental and food-safety requirements. These obligations increase the final cost of the product and narrow the industry’s ability to compete on price with operators in Egypt and Turkey.

Higher unit values provide limited protection

The 3% rise in unit export value from the previous season reflects an attempt to recover part of the accumulated cost burden. However, the simultaneous 6% decline in total value shows that the increase was insufficient to compensate fully for the 9% reduction in volume.

For Spanish processors and exporters, the central challenge is therefore not only weaker shipments but a widening competitive gap in markets where buyers can switch origins. Egypt and Turkey stand to capture additional business in established Spanish destinations if price differences persist, while Spanish suppliers must defend market access under higher operating requirements and lower overall volumes.